Internship in ENTOMOLOGY biocontrol to nut weevils

Internship: Study of the olfactory signals involved in the attraction of the nut weevil to its host plant

HostAssociation Nationale des Producteurs de Noisettes (ANPN), centre d’expérimentation sur les noisettes.TeamCoopérative UNICOQUE
INRA, UMR 1392, Versailles
https://ieesparis.ufr918.upmc.fr/LocationCancon (47290)PeriodMarch to August 2020 (6 months)

Keywords: Chemical Ecology, bio control, animal behavior

In France, the nut weevil (Curculio nucum L., Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is the main pest of hazelnuts. The adults feed from the green hazelnuts and the larvae develop into the kernel. During the season, the nut weevil can feed from other plants, but females will inevitably return to lay on the hazelnut. Previous studies have shown that the attraction of the weevil is linked to the phenology of the hazel trees. Thus, in a complex chemical landscape, the weevil can find its host plant. The BALAMITE project aims to develop an attractant blend from the odorous compounds involved in the attraction of the weevil.
The aim of this study will be to study the attraction behavior of weevils depending of the phenological stages of the hazel trees, in orchards and in laboratory conditions, and to participate in the screening of synthetic compounds to develop a blend of compounds, which may be used for the elaboration of attractive lures.
Main work steps: bibliographic study, collect insects, identification and sexing, development and tests behavioral devices

Required profile:  University student or engineering school or equivalent diploma. Writing and communication in English. Autonomy and synthesis. The candidate will join a team of ten people from technicians, engineers to doctors working in the Technical and Experimentation Service of the Unicoque cooperative. Knowledge of animal behavior and coding (Arduino) is an additional asset. Driving license and personal car are mandatory.

Material conditions: ​​Housing for the duration of the internship and an internship allowance. Supervisors: Rachid Hamidi, Entomologist at the ANPN (Cancon, France). Maud Thomas, Food Science, Responsible for the experimentation pole (UNICOQUE, Cancon, France). Brigitte Frérot, Research engineer at INRA (Versailles, France). To apply, send your requests to Alexandra Menguy Mignano: [email protected] Tel: 05 53 01 67 70 Fax: 05 53 01 78 08. SCA UNICOQUE / ANPN – “Lamouthe” – 47 290 CANCON