Species composition of the main pests of aubergine in open soil conditions of the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

In the context of climate change and excessive anthropogenic pressure, the adverse effects of pests in agrocenoses are increasing, leading to considerable losses of crop production and economic damages. During the growing season, it is necessary to conduct phytosanitary monitoring to identify and control the number, spread, and intensity of pests, followed by determining the level of danger and developing relevant plant protection measures. For this, from 2008 to 2022, the species composition of pests in aubergine plantations in open ground conditions in the central part of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine was studied. The study was conducted using conventional entomological methods. In aubergine plantations, 73 species of phytophagous insects from 25 families of 8 orders were found, which accounted for 93% of the pest structure, 2 species of mites (3%), 2 species of nematodes (3%), and one species of slugs (1%). The species diversity of insect phytophages was represented by insects from the orders: Coleoptera (20 species from 6 families), Lepidoptera (19 species from 5 families), Homoptera (14 species from 3 families), Diptera (9 species from 4 families), Orthoptera (5 species from 4 families), Thysanoptera (3 species from 1 family), Hemiptera (2 species from 1 family), Hymenoptera (1 species from 1 family). Among the ticks, the greatest damage was caused by the red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch.), which on average was inhabiting 10-50% of the area. The average number of Tetranychus urticae Koch. was 8.5 specimens/plant, with up to 35-44% damage, which exceeded the EWP by 3.5-4.4 times. The colonisation of aubergine areas by naked slugs was not significant (up to 12%), but plant damage reached 10-14%. Among the insect phytophages, the largest area of plantations was infested with the Colorado potato beetle, larvae of the maybeetle, and gnawing scoops, which averaged 35-100%. The most harmful during the growing season were the Colorado potato beetle and the European mole cricket