The population level of western corn rootworm adults in the period 2005-2009

Abstract

06. 2018. Abstract Western corn rootworm (WCR) ( Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) is one of the most important and potentially most dangerous pests of maize. Since its occurrence in Serbia in 1992, it has been present in almost all areas under maize cultivation. Alongside with all preventive measures, first of all, the crop rotation, which is considered the most economic one, a great attention has been paid to the forecast of the pest occurrence based on the flight dynamics and the population level. The flight dynamics, sex dominance, variations in the population level depending on the trap types and climate factors were observed on two locations: Crepaja in three-year continuous cropping (2005-2007) and in the experimental field of the Maize Research Institute, Zemun Polje in the duration of five years (2005-2009). According to the flight dynamics of WCR adults, the highest population level of this pest was observed in 2005, while the comparison of the number of adults over locations showed greater abundance of the pest in Crepaja than in Zemun Polje, which was attributed to extreme favourability of agro-ecological conditions on this location for the WCR development. The 2008-2009 period was characterised by the reduced number of WCR, which coincided with the extremely arid conditions that do not favour the development of this pest.