The Western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte en route to Germany | Der Westliche Maiswurzelbohrer Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Col.: Chrysomelidae) auf dem Weg nach Deutschland
2005
Wudtke, A. | Hummel, H. E. | Ulrichs, C.
The Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Col.: Chrysomelidae) (Dvv), is one of the most important insect pests on corn in North America. After its accidental introduction into Serbia prior to 1993, it is now actively spreading throughout southeastern Europe and from there into central Europe. As of 2004, Germany is still considered free of Dvv, but with the exception of its neighboring states Denmark and Poland is almost totally surrounded by countries with readily detectable Dvv infestations. Possible routes of immigration are discernable: (1) from the south via Italy, Switzerland, and France into the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, (2) from the southeast via Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, and Slovenia into Bavaria, and (3) from the northwest via France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and England. Route 1 via Switzerland and Alsace in France is the most likely, and introduction may occur anytime in 2005, if it has not silently taken place already. The distance between Blotzheim Airport and the southwestern German border is about 5 km; the distance between the Swiss city of Winterthur and the southern German border is about 35 km. Both locations had documented infestation. Investigations in 2004 along Route 1 provide evidence for increasing numbers of Dvv occupying trapping locations situated near major traffic centers such as airports, freeways, alpine tunnels for transeuropean roads and railways, railyards, and tourist service centers, in short all major distribution centers for goods and services. These routes unfortunately emphasize the active role of mankind as the major distribution vector for Dvv. Investigations were facilitated by highly sensitive trapping techniques such as Metcalf traps baited with pheromone and kairomone lures. They were deployed at locations from the Italian/Swiss border crossing at Chiasso, to distribution centers within the Magadino region in northern Ticino and merging into two major connecting routes leading to the mountain passes and tunnels of St. Gotthard and San Bernardino and points further north. Mandatory crop rotation measures in the Ticino region could actually reduce but not eliminate the recent progress of Dvv northward. Given the recent encroachment, its importation into German territory is pending and seems to be unavoidable.
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