Our Project

Funding

https://www.ictagrifood.eu/

HALY.ID is one of 19 consortia that the ICT-AGRII-FOOD Steering Committe recommended in a two-phase submission processwhere 112 eligible pre-proposals were submitted.

Mission

Due to its hitchhiking features, HH has rapidly spread since 2004 throughout the European continent, where it is currently reported to have established populations in 28 countries. Both adults and nymphs feed by piercing and sucking on a great variety of fruits and seeds, rendering products unmarketable. Post-harvest damage is due to late feeding that causes internal suberifications, which in the early stage are frequently not visible to the naked eye . In 2019, the economic impact of this pest for fruit orchards (pear, apple, peach, kiwi) in Northern Italy was estimated at €588 millions . Due to the high reproductive potential, very high mobility, polyphagy, and the general robustness of adult specimens, management of HH is challenging and chemical control proved to be unsatisfactory. Nonetheless, increased applications of broad spectrum-insecticides have been adopted, disrupting previous Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, causing a negative impact to the environment, and undermining the final consumers’ confidence in farming . Last, but not least,  HH is a household nuisance for all ciitizens that live close to green areas in our cities due to the overwintering aggregations inside man-made structures.