The status of the harmful Chrysomelidae species Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte (1831), also known as the western corn rootworm (WCR) or "Colorado" corn beetle, has changed during the 30 years since its installation in Europe and almost 26 years since its first report in Romania. In the first years after entering the territory of the European Union and implicitly in Romania, the insect was included in the category of quarantine species, then in 2013 it was removed from the list. Thus, the attention of specialists, responsible bodies at national level and farmers regarding the tracking and monitoring of the species has decreased or been diminished. However, isolated studies have shown that the species continues to appear frequently, although not officially reported, even in large populations in maize crops and experimental plots, especially in western Romania. At the same time, being a pest with a double attack on plants, the focus on the species required an analysis in a different way on the two active stages (larvae, adults) and in different phenophases. Thus, we set out to bring to attention the importance of the species through an up-to-date analysis of the country's presence and economic importance from personal observations of other researchers or owners of maize crops and relevant press articles. From our results we found that it is still present in considerable populations with aggressive manifestations on plant organs, being reported (on traps, direct or accidental observations) since installation (1996) and until now (2021) with continuity in western crops. country and not only. An updated map of the pest Diabrotica virgifera virgifera is provided through this study so that the scientific and academic world as well as farmers or other interested bodies can get an idea of the status and evolution of the species in Romania.

Diabrotica, pest, maize, situation, Romania

agronomy

Presentation: poster