Aliens 2021 (work in progress)

Tuscany/2021

“ALIEN” is an ongoing project started during the first quarantine in Italy when forced at home after years of working abroad, I realized that the fig tree in my garden was withering fast. Too fast to be normal.

An “alien species” is an organism (plant, fungus, animal..) that intentionally or accidentally arrives in a new habitat and adjusts itself perfectly surviving to new temperatures, climate, sustenance and reproduction. Due to the increasing speed of movement of goods and people, along with climate change, this phenomenon becomes each day more serious and is the cause of the destruction and suffering of many organisms. 

Allegedly, The Aclees Taiwanensis (black weevil), arrived in Italy, in Genova’s harbour from South East Asia in 2005 with a cargo of infected fig trees (ficus carica). Since then, it slowly but steadily started its conquest of the Italian territory moving from tree to tree leaving behind nothing but dead trees. 

Its larvae dig alimentation tunnels in the fig tree’s roots and trunk causing its deterioration and then its death within two or three years. To date, this black weevil has no natural antagonist in nature and its expansion is potentially boundless. 

The fig tree played an important role in the rural scenario in Italy as it is a strong and generous plant that needs nothing to bloom. Nowadays, the fig trees haven’t found a place in our contemporary economy and its pest, which is slowly causing its disappearance, seems not to move anyone. 

Following the insect’s life cycle, pictures of the affected and dying trees have been shot at night.

Night shoot of a fig tree orchard in Tuscany about to disappear
Signs of the black weevil’s larvae activity on the roots of a fig tree
Signs of black weevil eating on a fig.
A rare shot of Aclees Taiwanensis with open wings.
The black weevil’s larvae
The CREA’s (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics) laboratory in Florence where the black weevil expansion was under research
A specimen of black weevil dead after exposure to the fungus Beauveria Bassiana by the CREA’s (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics) research team in Florence
Fig trees part of the CREA’s (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics) experimental research in the fight against the black weevil
An infested fig tree of the type “dottato” historically used for the famous production of dried figs in Tuscany
The last fruits and leaves production of an infested fig tree
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Pubblicato da martinamorini

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