In the period 2001-2004, experiments were conducted in the region of Backa (northern Serbia) to assess the efficiency of insecticide treatment of sugar beet seeds in controlling soil pests (larvae of Elateridae family) and reducing the damage caused by beet weevil (Bothynoderes punctiventris G e r m) and flea beetle (Chaetocnema tibialis I l l i g). Several insecticides mostly systemic ones (carbofuran, thiamethoxam, fipronil, imidacloprid and clothianidin), and their combinations with pyrethroids in different doses were tested in field conditions. Stand density, percentages of plants damaged by B. punctiventris and C. tibialis, injury level and weight of juvenile plants served as parameters for evaluation of insecticide efficiency. Most of the insecticides applied to seeds provided a significantly better stand density compared with the untreated control. Because of their systemic action, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and their mixtures with pyrethroids provided very good protection of juvenile plants from C. tibialis and in some cases from B. punctiventris.

In the region of Vojvodina, sugar beet weevil (Bothynoderes punctiventris G e r m) is the most important sugar beet pest. Therefore, it would be of great practical benefit if we could establish some regularity in their population dynamics, if it exists and then organize the control of this pest more successfully. During the period of 1961-2004, in Vojvodina, the population density of B. punctiventris was monitored. The annual average of population density varied between 0 and 15 insects per square meter. Analyzing the obtained data it was noticed that there existed a certain periodicity of population outbreaks (maximal densities), approximately of 11 years. Regarding the fact that the solar activity, known as solar flux (observed at 2800 MHz) has a similar periodicity, a statistical processing in the paper of the collected data (periodograms, cross periodograms /real and imaginary ones/, cross densities, cross quadratures, cross amplitudes, squared coherencies as well as cross correlations) was carried out. Inter alia, it was concluded that the population outbreaks of B. punctiventris follows the maximal solar activity (known as solar flux on 2800 MHz), with a lag of seven years.

The most sensitive period in brain development is during prenatal life. The use of antibiotics in pregnancy is still controversial. Recent studies revealed the high neurotoxic potential of the antibiotic and antiprotozoal medication, metronidazole. However, there are insufficient data from animal studies about prenatal treatment effects. We investigated the effect of prenatal treatment with metronidazole on cerebellar development in guinea pigs. Treatment with metronidazole was performed from the 42nd to the 49th day of gestation. On the 50th day of pregnancy, all dams were killed, and the cerebella of the fetuses were analyzed. Gross cerebellar changes characterized by malposition of the folia with partial atrophy were found in 12 of 19 fetuses in the experimental group, but in none of 20 control fetuses that received saline. The most affected were folia VII with depletion of the areal fraction of the external granular layer, molecular layer and the internal granular layer. Purkinje cells displayed cell distortion with loss of normal dendritic polarity. The investigation revealed cell depletion, with a disturbance of the cytoarchitectonic of the cerebellar cortex and folia alteration. [Projects of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 175006 and Grant no. 142-451-3176/2020-01]

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