K. MUSCSI
Csongrád County Plant Health and Soil Protection Service, 6800 Hódmezövásárhely, P.O. Box 99., HUNGARY e-mail: kmucsi-csnta@fki.gov.hu
K. PALFI, C. VASZI-KOVACS, E. PETRO
Centre Service for Plant Health and Soil Conservation, 1519 Budapest, P.O. Box 340., HUNGARY

In 2000, the Western corn rootworm (WCR) was present all over Hungary, except for three counties (Györ-Moson-Sopron, Zala and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg). This year, the traps have caught individuals in all regions of the country.

Supported by the forecasting specialists of the Hungarian Plant Protection Organisation, a sequential sampling was adapted according to the American literature. Investigations were made between 23 July and 7 September 2001. The survey procedure is simple and rapid, easy to learn for everybody and no special equipment and tools are required.

During the sampling process, the growing in monoculture and in one-year field is studied in a separated way. Investigations are made on minimum 20 and maximum 50 plants/pair of plants. Putting the obtained data in a table of infestation threshold, a rapid and simple decision can be made on whether treatments are needed or not on the particular field.

This technique does not only provide a simple decision model for specialists, but it can be easily learnt and safely applied by farmers.