A recent graduate of AgroParisTech, Théo is working on the systematics of parasitoid microhymenoptera, combining morphological (coupled with AI) and molecular approaches. His aim is to specialise in two families of chalcid wasps of agronomic importance, the Encyrtidae and the Aphelinidae, which are primarily parasitoids of scale insects and whiteflies. He will organise and implement the collection of these organisms and the associated databases (taxonomy, life history, bibliography) already in place, and will set up a barcoding programme for European species.

At the start of his contract, he is involved in the ANR NGS-OLICIT project (a collaboration between CBGP, INRAE AGAP Corse, BionomeeX, France Olive) which aims to identify the factors (climate, landscape, agricultural practices, connectivity of natural enemy networks between plots and the environment, etc.) favouring the natural control of pests by beneficial arthropods on two perennial crops (Citrus and Olea) in the Mediterranean region and in Corsica. Ultimately, in addition to a smartphone app enabling the identification and counting of pest and beneficial insects on target crops, the aim will be to establish a natural pest control score for each plot to guide management decisions based on photos of trap contents and all available parameters.