K. KARABATSAS, J. A. TSITSIPIS, K. ZARPAS
Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, University of Thessaly, Fytokou st 38446, Nea Ionia, Magnesia, Greece
L. FURLAN
Department of Agronomy, Entomology, University of Padova, via Romea 16, 35020 Legnaro PD, Italy.
M. TOTH
Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Pf. 102, H-1525, Hungary

The seasonal abundance of adults and larvae of five wireworm species (Coleoptera: Elateridae) was examined in Velestino, Magnesia, Central Greece (latitude 39°22’, yearly average rainfall 450 mm, yearly average temperature 14.37° C) during years 1999-2001. Sex pheromone (YATLOR (2000), YATLOR funnel (2001) and VARb (1999, 2000)) and soil bait traps were used and soil samplings were made.  Different combinations of the various types of traps were installed each year in the experimental field.  Sex pheromone traps operated from April to September. Soil bait traps were installed for 15 days in April (covered soil). October and November (bare soil) respectively.  Soil samplings were performed in April and October-November every year at a depth of 30 cm. The species Agriotes rufipalpis Brullè and Agriotes litigiosus Rossi were examined in all three years, while Agriotes lineatus L., Agriotes brevis Càndeze in 1999, and Agriotes obscurus L. in 2000.  The swarming period of A. rufipalpis and A. litigiosus lasted from late March to mid September and from early May to early July with two peaks in late April and early June and one peak in late May, respectively in all three years.  In 1999, 660.5 and 256.5 adults per pheromone trap of A. rufipalpis and A. litigiosus were captured, respectively.  Adults of A. brevis were not caught and only three adults of A. lineatus were captured.  During 2000, 2443.8 and 248.7 adults per trap of A. rufipalpis and A. litigiosus were captured, respectively.  No A. obscurus insects were caught in the pheromone traps.  In 2001, 6721.8 adults of A. rufipalpis and 218.8 adults of A. litigiosus were captured.  In 1999, no larvae were found in both soil bait traps and soil sampling.  In 2000, larvae of A. rufipalpis only were captured in soil bait traps, three, six and eight all out of 33 traps/month, in April, October, and November, respectively.  In March 2001, 12 larvae A. rufipalpis and one Melanotus sp. were found out of 44 soil bait traps.  In soil samples, four larvae A. rufipalpis were found, two in November 2000 and two in April 2001 out of 33 and 44 samples respectively.