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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Unusual warm temperatures allow perfect tomatoes ripening in open field in Varese in October(!), without signs of fungi in absence of chemical treatments. Bit of a Surprise, though.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Orticoltori: fate attenzione all'afide ceroso del cavolfiore, Brevicoryne brassicae, favorito dalle attuali temperature e umidità. Colonie numerose distorcono le foglie, accecano e disseccano le piante.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Il poligono giapponese, Reynoutria japonica, e' una pianta inserita nella lista europea delle specie invasive aliene. Particolarmente diffusa sulle sponde di fiumi e torrenti, va rimossa evitando la formazione di frammenti.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Water emergency: to help our friends birds and pollinators during this severe drought deploy sources of water, such as saucepans with stones or gravel to avoid insects drowning. Every little helps protecting biodiversity!

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Urban Trees (26): High temperatures and severe prolonged drought in northern Italy are causing a premature leaf dropping (phylloptosis) of many broad-leaved trees, such as London plane, Platanus, especially in urban context.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Should I sing them a lullaby? Bombus terrestris happily sleeping at night in my garden on cardoon flowers, after a hard working day. It is vital to offer a pasture and water in summer to pollinators, especially in the current one, marked by a severe drought.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Dahlias are generous and colourful flowers, very attractive to #pollinators, in particular to #bumblebees and solitary bees. Make your garden biodiversity friendly, reduce lawn cuts and plant nectariferous plants, to offer a pasture to our friends pollinators!

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

The calm before the storm...otherwise said: the beauty before Popillia japonica...

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

#TakahashiaJaponica #StringCottonyScale impressive population and damages on two mulberries in Varese city. This is the result of three consecutive years infestation by this insect, which is spreading quite rapidly.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Climate adaptation & resilience. No matter the supermarket brand or municipality: parking lots are ample asphalt sealed surfaces creating heat islands under increasing temperatures. When will we discover the importance of trees in mitigating climate change effects in urban areas?

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

#Urban #Trees (25): what kind of sin may these trees have committed in the parking lot to be treated like that? Shading? Dirty someone's car with honeydew?

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Low temperatures and high umidity in early spring favor attacks of the fungus #TaphrinaDeformans, aka Peach Bubble, causing characteristic symptoms on leaves. Correct choice of varieties, location, pruning and some preventive treatments are necessary also in small gardens.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

#Urban #Trees (24). This astonishing linden, Tilia spp., has been pruned for more than 50 years to shape its branches as long rays, covering completely a bar yard, and shading with its canopy customers in summer.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

#ClimateChange & ornamental plants: mild winter temperatures has led to early blooming of several species (2 months+ on Camellia). Early blooming + late frost is a dangerous mix which has severe consequences e.g. on C. japonica cv "Lavinia Maggi", which flowers are burnt.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

#PineProcessionaryMoth (Traumatocampa pityocampa) nests on a big Pinus nigra in a city centre. Larvae's irritating hairs can harm people and animals. Removal or destruction of the nests should be done in winter, and warnings to citizens placed in the surroundings.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Here in Varese, spring is marked by the magnificent blooming of several varieties of Magnolia x soulangeana, a pleasure for the eyes and mind.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Definition of elegance: the flowing foliage of the weeping willow in spring!!!

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Pay attention while digging your compost heap!!! You might inadvertently wake up someone earlier than expected, like it happened to me. Sorry ma'am...

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Lamium purpureum, aka Red dead-nettle, offers a valuable early pasture to bumblebees, such as Bombus terrestris and Bombus pascuorum, and honeybees. Be patient, let them enjoy for a while, before spading your vegetable garden. Help protect pollinators!!!

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Camellia japonica "Oki-no-nami" (Ocean waves) supposed to show flowers in spring, fully in bloom in February in Lombardy. Earlier and earlier blooming along the years, due to mild winters. Is it linked to #ClimateChange?

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

#Urban #Trees (23): roots and trunk protections must be checked regularly, widened when tight or removed, to prevent damages to trees' collar.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

#TreeClimbing is the best technique for inspecting trees' canopy and for selective pruning, reaching small branches and avoid causing damages to mature trees'.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

🍎Apple internal browning is a physiological disorder associated with later harvested, large, and over mature fruit and with CO2 concentration in storage. The fruit appears normal from outside, without symptoms. Once opened, It reveals...

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

#Urban #Trees (22): access of heavy machinery for maintenance of mature or historic parks must consider soil conditions to prevent soil compaction and damages to trees' roots, favoring pathogens attacks to roots and triggering trees' decline.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Mild winter temperatures in northern Lombardy fool primeroses, blooming months erlier than what it is expected. With current climate change trend, this phenomenon affects many plants.

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Reposted by eugenio gervasini

UNRWA @unrwa.org · 04/01/2026

People in #Gaza are still living in dire conditions. Their homes collapsed, their tents are torn by the winter weather. They need more food, more medicine, more shelter supplies. Humanitarian aid is available. UNRWA and other aid organisations are still working. Lift the aid restrictions.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

Do not judge me only from the bend! Trees stability evaluation requires a careful assessment of many parameters, using suitable technology if necessary. The place where a potentially dangerous tree is located can constitute an aggravating factor in the risk assessment.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Il dono di Natale fuori stagione della camelia "Oki-no-nami": Onde sull'oceano. Un unico fiore, inatteso. Sereno Natale a tutti!!!

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Autumn and Winter let best appreciate the beauty of #PlatanusAcerifolia, London Plane, bark. This species is well adapted to difficult living condition of urban environment, where it also contributes to our quality of life with shade and air purification.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Autumn beauty: mature Lombardy poplars and spectacular London Plane trees in Villa Mylius, Varese.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

The presence in these days of fruiting bodies of #Armillaria, #HoneyMushrooms, in your orchard or garden is not a good sign. To prevent attacks of this parasitic fungi keep your trees in good health, avoid water stagnation and heavy pruning!

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

#Urban #Trees (21): pruning big branches or not respecting the collar area lead to open wounds through which fungi agents of wood decay can easily enter trees. For maintaining healthy trees, prune wisely and properly, considering trees anatomy and physiology!

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

#Urban #Trees (20): superficial structural #roots of trees such as Norway spruce can be heavily damaged by improper use of lawnmowers tractors, favoring pathogens attack and trees decline, leading to death.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Interlaminar serpentine mines caused by the larvae of the lepidopteran #PhyllocnistisCitrella, a potted lime tree leaves in Ispra, northern Italy. Damage visible from upper and lower surface. Possible established population of the pest in the area. Pictures: courtesy Chiara Magliozzi.

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Reposted by eugenio gervasini

European Alien Species Information Network - EASIN @eualiens.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

On Sept 13th 📆our Eugenio Gervasini & Beatrice Melone will stage the storytelling play "Dialoghi alieni sulla Biodiversità" at CNR event “𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐀-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐞” 🌊 in Bologna. A journey through the canal nature, ending with a fictional debate on invasive species 🦀🦞👉http://bit.ly/3JNfION

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Impressive death of Norway spruce trees, Picea excelsa, caused by the #BarkBeetle #IpsTypographus in Val Badia, South Tyrol. Experts consider this massive attack a legacy of the storm Vaia, which knocked down 42,500 ha of woods in northern Italy in 2018. Increasing temperatures favored the beetle.

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Reposted by eugenio gervasini

European Citizen Science Association @ecsa.ngo · 28/08/2025

Ready for #ECSA2026?  Join this panel to share results, methods, frameworks, and debates in #AgriFood Citizen Science. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝟕 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: nomadit.co.uk/conference/ecsa2026/p…  #CallForPapers

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Reposted by eugenio gervasini

EFSA Plants @efsa-plants.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

📢New pest survey card: #Anthonomus bisignifer & A. signatus 👉Protect strawberries and other important crops from these pests. Strengthen your surveillance efforts with this resource. 🌱 #PlantHealth #PestSurveyCard #SurveillanceNetwork

Anthonomus bisignifer adult (Source: Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org)

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier [chiloensis × virginiana]) cultivation (Source: Ko Ko Maung, Bugwood.org)

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

This looks like Vespa velutina, known as Asian Hornet, an i'vasive alien species of Union concern according to EU Regulation 1143/2014, a bees predator.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

#PopilliaJaponica, #JapaneseBeetle, host preference: Betula utilis var. jacquemontii, Himalayan birch, with canopy completely skeletonized in the foreground, compared to untouched Betula pendula in the background.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

L'alternariosi del pomodoro, causata dal fungo patogeno #AlternariaSolani, ha un optimum di temperatura tra i 25 e i 35 gradi con elevata umidita'. Per questo si osserva facilmente adesso negli orti familiari. Efficaci distanza tra piante, trattamenti con rame e pulizia foglie.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

#HorsechestnutLeafBlotch typical internerval symptoms, caused by the fungus #GuignardiaAesculi, has been favored by last weeks heavy rain and high humidity in northern Lombardy, Italy. Damages mostly aesthetic, removal of dead leaves is useful to control future infections.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Rosure da #HeliothisArmigera, nottua del pomodoro. Le larve di questo lepidottero nottuide hanno causato gravi danni nel Canton Ticino (Svizzera) a fagioli, piselli, ceci e mais dolce coltivati in pieno campo, e pomodori, melanzane e peperoni in serra. bit.ly/46JiiPd

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Yellowish apperance of #NorwaySpruce tips due the infection of the fungus #ChrysomixaRhododendri, which completes its cycle between Rhododendron and Picea abies, observed in Valle Verzasca, Switzerland, on 27.07, at about 1.500 mt a. s. l.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Parasite fungus #ExobasidiumRhododendri gall-like bodies on Rhododendron plants in Valle Verzasca, Switzerland, about 1,700 mt a.s.l., on 27.07.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

#CamerariaOhridella, #HorseChestnutLeafMiner, #InvasiveAlienSpecies moth, once a plague, has become an entomological curiosity in Lombardy, with its typical leaf mines.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Autumn appearance of birches, which leaves have been skeletonized by the #InvasiveAlienSpecies #PopilliaJaponica #Japanese beetle in Varese province, today.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Bamboo, if not properly contained and confined in gardens, can very easily become invasive occupying large areas, causing also problems with neighbours. Root barriers must be laid.

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eugenio gervasini @eu-genius.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

#Urban #Trees (19): trees decay appears as a transparency of the canopy, due to microphyllia, which can eventually lead to trees death, in conjunction with drought and high temperatures. Root causes are very often linked to pathogens affecting vascular and root system.

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