Stanje i perspektive suzbijanja žičara i drugih štetočina u zemljištu u proizvodnji krompira / Situation and perspectives of wireworms and other soil pests control in potato production

Many pests belonging to different animal species damage the underground parts of potato plants, primarily tubers. Insect groups of major economic importance among them are wireworms and grubs, larvae of click and scarab beetles (families Elateridae and Scarabaeidae), the fi rst group being even more important. In this context, two species of click beetles distinguish themselves, namely Agriotes ustulatus and A. sputator, while Anisoplia genus is the most abundant on arable land amongst scarab beetles. Occasionally, potato tubers are damaged by cutworms, especially turnip moths, Agrotis segetum, whose second generation larvae are of economic importance. The greatest damage on potato is inflicted in late summer and early autumn. The estimated wireworm damage on potato tubers is up to 90%. Integrated pest management and the use of all reliable measures contributed to the reduction of the importance of wireworms and other soil pest species. Timely and accurate application of cultural practices such as crop rotation, crop selection, time and method of tillage, crop remains destruction, fertilization, irrigation, time of potato harvesting and many others, are needed for a productive crop yield. Since the middle of the last century, pesticide use has been and will probably continue to be the basis of soil pests control. There are several insecticides for wireworm control registered in Serbia: chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos and imidacloprid, tefluthrin, zeta-cypermethrin, and recently added fipronil (formulation Goldor Bait). To what extent will conventional insecticides be used in future will primarily depend on the development and implementation of alternative methods and worldwide procedures of controlling these pest groups. Such measures should include the introduction of pheromones, the use of entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes, botanical insecticides and their effective implementation, together with developing forecast models and similar steps.