FEVERPRO Project Development of biological control methods in alternative to pesticides to manage Bruchus rufimanus Boheman 1833 in field bean crops

Bruchus rufimanus Boheman 1833 (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae) is a serious pest of Vicia faba L. (Fabaceae) preventing the valuation of crop products due to its post-embryonic development taking place inside forming seeds. However, the European Union, concerned about the sustainable development of its agriculture, promotes V. faba crops for its multiple services provided to cropping systems, and restricts at the same time the use of effective pesticides against B. rufimanus. This suggests the finding of alternative control methods, such as the use of semiochemicals. To date, some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) involved in the field colonization, feeding, mating and oviposition of B. rufimanus, taking place on different parts of V. faba and following its phenological stage, have already been identified. Further studies would, however, provide insight into other pheromonal means of communication that could be implemented in the semiochemical-based management of this pest, such as the assessment of oviposition or aggregation pheromones. Concerning the semiochemical-based control methods, only one study has been trying to implement a mass-trapping method; and no studies investigated other methods, such as the push-pull or attract-and-kill methods, in IPM strategy including new insight into pheromone identification, entomopathogenic agents or specific parasitoids. In this context, preliminary experimentations of entomopathogenic tests and odor samplings for the identification of new pheromones (aggregation or oviposition deterring pheromone) were carried out within the “FEVERPRO project”, and could suggest the implementation of innovative control methods of this specific pest in alternative to the use of pesticides.