1. © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY Integrated Pest Management for WESTERN CORN ROOTWORM -WCR (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) in Central and Eastern Europe MODULE C13

2. © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY Background First detection of WCR (damage by larvae) in Europe in 1992; Rapid spread of the pest in Europe; Jumping-spread movement beyond the actual spread line; Multiple transatlantic introductions of WCR.

3. © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY Morphology of WCR Eggs: 0,5 mm; whitish-yellow; 15-20cm in the soil; Larvae: 3 larval stages; 1,2 mm (L1)- 1,5 cm (L3); whitish-yellow, black head capsule; soil, maize roots; Pupae (pupa libera) 7,5 mm; whitish-yellow; non moving stage in the soil; Adults: 7,5 mm; yellow, with three black strips; difference between males and females; active on plants.

4. © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY Eggs overwinter in the soil L1 L2 L3 Pupae Adults die Oviposition Emergence of adults VII-VIII VI V VIII - IX VII-VIII VI-VII Life cycle of WCR Source: S. Toepfer

5. © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY Damage by WCR larvae Successful development of larvae (almost) only on maize roots; Maize root system damaged, plants will lodge (goose-neck symptom); WCR larval damage evaluation: Iowa 1-6 scale, node – injury scale.

6. © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY Damage by WCR adults WCR adults are feeding on several plant species, Feed on pollen of different crops; Feed on maize leaves, silks and pollen; Economic damage on maize plants due to silk clipping; Less fertilized ears and yield loss (quantity and quality of kernels).

7. © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY Monitoring of WCR adults Purpose: Evaluation of the - presence of WCR adult population; - potential for silk clipping; - risk for next year larval damage (if not rotated). Tools/methods: - Csalomon pheromone traps; - yellow sticky traps (e.g. Pherocon AM); - whole plant count.

8. © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY Cultural practices - Feeding and oviposition of females in maize, successful larval development in subsequent year maize CROP ROTATION; - Field size/margins/surrounding of the field; - Soil type, tillage system/weeds; - Planting time/hybrid selection; BT maize (?); - Production inputs (fertilizer, water, green manure). LATE PLANTING: escape from taching period of the larvae where temperature and rainfall allow EARLY PLANTING: to allow root system development as soon as possible where temperature and rainfall allow IPM for WCR Crop rotation field test plots for WCR management (EU 5th Framework project Hungary, 2000-2004)

9. © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY IPM for WCR Biological methods: - There are several antagonists and parasitoids (entomopathogenic fungi, Nematodes, Diptera spp.) and predators (praying mantis, ground beetles, spiders, frogs and some birds) that parasite or prey on WCR; - It is still not defined to what extent these predators are able to regulate the WCR population. FAO/ P. HOFFMANNFAO/ S. TOEPFER

10. © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY IPM for WCR Chemical control: Larvae: to prevent/decrease larval damage in given year - seed treatment - soil insecticide application at planting Adults: to prevent damage by silk clipping or to reduce egg laying and next year larval damage - foliar insecticide application - high clearence ground sprayer - aircraft/helicopter - attract and kill (reduced insecticide rate+feeding arrestant) Innovative control option: Bt (rootworm resistant) maize hybrids - widespread in USA - under approval in Europe

11. © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY © ENDURE, February 2007 FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY FARMERS AIM is to be able to MANAGE the pest on their fields, but Management of the WCR on one field is not effective enough so COMMUNITY ACTION is needed, based on COMMON UNDERSTANDING. Farmers perspective?