The aim of the paper is to present a case study regarding the incidence of the attack of the stem borer wood leopard moth (Zeuzera pyrina L.) caterpillar in a highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) plantation from western Romania. The importance of the work is justified by the poor information from literature referring to the attack of this pest in plantations of highbush blueberry, this type of reference being useful both for the farmers and for the researchers from Romania interested in this topic and by the increase of the area planted with Vaccinium corymbosum L. in our country. Location of the blueberry farm is in Gherteniș (Caraș Severin County, Romania), the geographical coordinates being 45°25′48″N and 21°34′55″E. The plantation was set in 2015. The plantation has four highbush blueberry varieties Duke, Legacy, Hannah’s choice and Elliott that covers different intervals of time due to different fruits ripening periods. There was analysed the incidence of the attack of the stem borer in two years in the condition of current application of the control works (pruning and chemical treatment). The results obtained showed an increase of the attack of wood leopard moth from a year to other in the plantation, even there were applied the current control works, except the variety Legacy that was less attacked in the second year of monitoring. Even the attack values registered during the two experimental years are low, the trend observed was the increase of the incidence of this pest species in the analysed plantation. This pest must to be kept under observation due to the potential of producing severe damages and economic loses in plantations and orchards as it was mentioned for many other ligneous species.

Vaccinium corymbosum L., Zeuzera pyrina L., stem borer, caterpillar, attack

field crops and pastures

Presentation: None