1 This review presents the latest research regarding maize resistance breeding against western corn rootworm (WCR) in the U.S.A. and Europe. 2 Investigations in Europe on the development of maize cultivars possessing resistant mechanisms against WCR are just beginning. In 2003, the European Commission implemented measures aimed at slowing down the spread of the WCR in Europe.Nevertheless, this pest has already been found in 20 countries of the European region. To establish a sustainable production system, the evaluation of native (nontransgenic) resistance in maize cultivars is essential. 3 This review emphasizes the future challenges involved in the research of native resistance breeding in maize against the insect.

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Sampling of thrips species and their host plants were carried out from 1993 to 1996 on 111 localities in Croatia. Samples of thrips were taken from 235 different plant species. 33 thrips species from suborder Terebrantia and 14 thrips species from suborder Tubulifera were found in research. The most abundant species were onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) and flower thrips (Frankliniella intonsa), which were found on host plants from 30

SummaryNematode communities were used as bioindicators of changes in agroecosystems caused by anthropogenic factors. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of plowing and harrowing on nematode communities structure in comparison to "no tillage" treatments. The effects of mechanical disturbing of nematodes were determined on four soil treatments. Differences in nematode community structure were compared between two tillage regimes: standard tillage and no tillage. Research was conducted in 2000, in Kneževo near Osijek. Plowing had impact on increasing of bacterivorous nematodes and decreasing of fungivorous nematodes. Pratylenchus, Helicotylenchus and Tylenchus were dominant plant-feeding nematodes in no tillage treatments, while in plowing treatments Pratylenchus and Tylenchus were dominant. Abundance of Aphelenchoides decreased significantly after plowing. Tillage affected nematode communities in the soil ecosystem by changing the trophic structure and gave a decreasing, but not statistically significant, trend in MI.

It is assumed that the abundance of Agriotes wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) is affected by agro-ecological factors such as climatic and edaphic factors and the crop/previous crop grown at the sites investigated. The aim of this study, conducted in three different geographic counties in Croatia from 2007 to 2009, was to determine the factors that influence the abundance of adult click beetle of the species Agriotes brevis Cand., Agriotes lineatus (L.), Agriotes obscurus (L.), Agriotes sputator (L.), and Agriotes ustulatus Schall. The mean annual air temperature, total rainfall, percentage of coarse and fine sand, coarse and fine silt and clay, the soil pH, and humus were investigated as potential factors that may influence abundance. Adult click beetle emergence was monitored using sex pheromone traps (YATLORf and VARb3). Exploratory data analysis was preformed via regression tree models and regional differences in Agriotes species’ abundance were predicted based on the agro-ecological factors measured. It was found that the best overall predictor of A. brevis abundance was the previous crop grown. Conversely, the best predictor of A. lineatus abundance was the current crop being grown and the percentage of humus. The best predictor of A. obscurus abundance was soil pH in KCl. The best predictor of A. sputator abundance was rainfall. Finally, the best predictors of A. ustulatus abundance were soil pH in KCl and humus. These results may be useful in regional pest control programs or for predicting future outbreaks of these species.