© Benaki Phytopathological Institute
Diabrotica virgifera virgifera
in Greece
31
ogy at the University of Thessaly.
WCR adults were captured in four out of
the 31 prefectures, where pheromone traps
had been placed i.e. Thessaloniki, Serres,
Florina and Pieria (Fig. 1). The first capture
was noticed on 13 July 2009 and the last on
30 August 2009. All four prefectures, where
WCR was detected, are in the Region of
Macedonia (northern Greece) bordering FY-
ROM and Bulgaria. Detections were report-
ed in corn fields neighboring main roads
connecting northern Greece with other Bal-
kan countries. Based on the captures of WCR
adults in the pheromone traps, the popu-
lation of WCR adults was considered to be
rather low in all four areas. The highest cap-
tures were detected in Florina (201 adults
captured in 4 sites) and the lowest in Serres
(7 adults captured in 6 sites) (Table 1).
Based on the results of the survey, the
local authorities of the four prefectures,
where WCR was detected,
are in the proc-
ess of identifying zones, a focus zone and
a surrounding safety zone, where rotation
of maize with other crops will be followed.
Moreover, to better define the spread and
distribution of WCR in Greece, a more exten-
sive and intensive trapping network will be
established in 2010 in both the demarcated
zones and neighbouring regions.
The current study was supported by the Hel-
lenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food.
We are grateful to the phytosanitary inspec-
tors who carried out much of the field work.
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Table 1.
Captures of
Diabrotica virgifera vir-
gifera
Le Conte (western corn rootworm,
WCR) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in phero-
mone traps, placed in maize fields in Greece
during the period June-September 2009.
Area
(Prefecture)
Number of monitoring
sites (number of traps)
Number of
positive traps
Total number of WCR
adults trapped
Thessaloniki
4 (4)
3
51
Pieria
2 (2)
1
15
Serres
13 (13)
6
7
Florina
12 (12)
4
201
Others
143 (143)
0
0
1...,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30 32,33,34