Diversity of maize pests and their damaging effect in an agroecosystem from the Western side of the country

Abstract

Maize is one of the most important plants in the western side of Romania. During 2002-2005, the research carried out in untreated culture, in the Experimental Field from Jimbolia (Timiş County) pointed out the presence of many damaging species. The most important damaging species concerning the attacked percentage were: Tanymechus dillaticolis (47-69.5%), adults of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (34.6- 40.33%), Oulema melanopa (27.9 - 32.5%), Opatrum sabulosum (17.5- 31.0%), Ostrinia nubilalis (18.87-25.5%) and Aphis maidis (7.13-16.6%). Larvae of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera caused characteristically stalk bending in 4.42-11.08% plants from all the investigated plants. The presence of these pests caused significantly yield decrease.