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Working Group Meeting - Erice, Sicily, September 22-27, 2002

Organizers Stefano Colazza Peter Witzgall   Stefano Colazza Agricultural Entomology Institute, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 13 I-90128 Palermo

This meeting covers research on the biology and chemistry of behaviour-modifying chemicals of plant and insect origin, and their practical use in insect control.

Semiochemicals are often the only alternative to conventional insecticides. Many practical applications rely on lepidopteran sex pheromones, pheromones from other insect taxa are a focus of current developments.

Plant volatile compounds attract insects to food sources, mating and oviposition sites and thus offer further opportunities to manipulate insect behaviour.

Plant compounds play a significant role in plant-insect and plant-pathogen relationships. Knowledge of their mode of action will also help to understand plant resistance phenomena.

The meeting will be held in Erice, a town known for its delightful medieval ambience and splendid location. The lectures will be held at Villa San Giovanni, a reconverted Church from the 14th Century, offering a spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea.