I. ROSCA
University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine – Bucharest, Romania.

First occurrence of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte was detected in Romania in 1996 in Nadlag, district Arad in western region closed to Hungary and Yugoslavia, from that till now the pest was spread towards east and northwest being recorded in more tan half of Romania border in this year being district Mures and river Olt. In 2001 the biggest population was registered, by pheromone traps (CSALOMON) and also by yellow sticky traps (Pherocon AM) only in three southwestern districts (Timis, Arad and Caras-Severin).

The Western Corn Rootworm, during 2001, was monitorised in Timis district, regarding the symptoms of attacked plant (goose neck) in field, number of adults/plants, in 81 cornfields, number of adults/pheromone trap and yellow sticky traps in plant protection centers from Timisoara, Topolovatu Mare, Sanicolau Mare, Deta and Lugoj. In two cornfields from Jimbolia and Deta, was registered number of WCR larvae/plant and frequency and intensity (1-6 Iowa notes) of root damages. There are and other 5 fields counted for root damages.

In Timis district areas cultivated with corn after corn has decreased year after year, from 60.6 % in 1997 to 11.9 % in 2001, but has arise number o adult captured in pheromone traps from 13,167 in 1997 to 35,240 in 2000 and remains stationery in yellow sticky traps from 1,043 in 1997 to 910 in 2000.

In an FAO WCR Network research it was chosen one field with 3 years of corn cultivation and in different plots with corn, sunflower, soybean and wheat, presence of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera was assessed and quantified in 2001 through installing 3 pheromone traps, 3 yellow sticky traps and 3 emergence cages/field cultivated with these four cultures after corn.

During 2001, it was organized a farmers training system for district Timis, in which was printed an spread to farmers a booklet with WCR importance, biology, a system for pest and his attack recognizing and practical advice. Field training of team from plant protection centers and at the district level of farmers, which are in the influence zone of these centers, together with presentation of this WCR problem at the session of agriculture responsible from district Timis.