Dr. Kiriaki Varikou (Principal Investigator Entomologist) holds a Master’s and a PhD degree in biological control of crop pests and in the bioecology of citrus thrips, respectively. She has extensive experience in crop pest management in Crete (mainly for olive blight), insecticide bioassays, evaluation of new active substances, pest and beneficial insect breeding, rational use of plant protection products and risk management of new crop pests, wild pollinator studies, etc. Finally, she has more than 20 years of research activity in plant protection and integrated crop pest management. To date, he has published more than 30 articles (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kiki_Varikou) and has carried out numerous research projects (https://elgo.iosv.gr/staff-member/varikou-kiriaki/). Her role will be the coordination and management of insect pests in avocado cultivation.