RESEARCH FELLOW
ugo.picciotti(AT)ipsp.cnr.it
publications: Orcid
personal details and research activity: People
Curriculum Vitae
The Master’s Degree in Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, earned cum laude from the University of Bari Aldo Moro, allowed me to deepen my expertise in agricultural entomology, focusing on the study of pomegranate entomofauna, highlighting ecosystem dynamics and practical applications for controlling associated pests.
Subsequently, I pursued an International Master in Analysis and Management of Mediterranean Ecosystems at the Spanish universities of Alicante and Miguel Hernández in Elche. This expanded my understanding and management skills of trophic networks and the role of insects in natural and agroecosystems, such as wasps involved in Ficus pollination. During this period, my research focused on the biology and biological control of two economically relevant weevils, Cosmopolites sordidus and Rhynchophorus ferrugineus.
Part of my experience also involved research and technology transfer to implement innovative solutions like IoT, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and remote sensing, collaborating with agricultural and agri-food companies. Furthermore, I conducted research in organic agriculture, focusing on alien and invasive organisms such as Aleurocanthus spiniferus, Kermes vermilio, Drosophila suzukii, and Ommatissus binotatus.
During my PhD in Biodiversity, Agriculture, and Environment, conducted under international co-tutorship between the University of Bari Aldo Moro and the University of Alicante (Spain), I dedicated myself to studying the vectors of Xylella fastidiosa, particularly Aphrophoridae. I contributed to developing new sampling techniques and IPM strategies for their control. Additionally, I conducted morphological, bionomic, and mass-rearing studies on the predator Zelus renardii to better understand its role in the ecosystem and its potential applications in pest control.
I am a co-author of scientific articles published in specialised journals and hold a patent with the Spanish Patent Office.