Research of insect fauna in alfalfa fields in the region of Vojvodina has been neglected for more than twenty years. During the second half of the last century, many authors from former Yugoslavia investigated this topic: JOVANIĆ (1957), PETRIK (1959), BALARIN (1974), PROTIĆ (1987), KEREŠI & SEKULIĆ (1994). Despite rich diversity of insect fauna in alfalfa updated data on this topic are lacking, especially on Heteroptera in this crop. This can be explained by the fact that alfalfa makes only 4% of all crops raised in this region and that mainly pest species of economic importance are emphasized during the years of their mass appearance, exclusively. For this reason the aim of this study was to compare situation on heteropteran fauna diversity in alfalfa fields in the region of Bačka, with reference on investigations during the period 1981-1985 and in 2012. Special attention was paid to changes in bugs’ diversity, domination of species and economical threats by certain species. Sampling of Heteroptera was conducted in period from late spring to midsummer, during the period of high activity of bugs with respect of plant-host phenology. Adults were collected with insect net and by hand. Collected specimens were identified in the laboratory at the Faculty of Agriculture Novi Sad according to morphological characters and by using different keys for identification: BEI-BIENKO et al., 1964; PÉRICART, 1987; WYNIGER & KMENT, 2010; PROTIĆ 2011; www.macroID.ru; www.koleopterologie.de, etc. During the five years period of sampling 18 species belonging to six families of Heteroptera were registered, while in 2012 there were 26 identified species belonging to nine families. Dominant species in both periods of sampling were phytophagous species with polyphagous preferences, not strictly related to alfalfa. On the other hand the presence and abundance of predaceous species is also recorded what can be of importance in planning biological control program. Results of this study are an overview of the true bugs fauna present in the region of Bačka and represent the contribution to faunistic knowledge of Heteroptera in Serbia.

Heteroptera, fauna of true bugs, alfalfa

Presentation: oral