EFFICACY OF CERTAIN INSECTICIDES IN CONTROLLING THE CEREAL LEAF BEETLE (Oulema melanopus L.) IN WHEAT CROPS IN THE LAPLJE SELO AREA
Authors:   University of Pristina temporary settled in Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Agriculture, Lešak, Kosovo and Metohia, Serbia, Grčak Dragan , Đokić Cecilija ,   University of Pristina temporary settled in Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Agriculture, Lešak, Kosovo and Metohia, Serbia, Grčak Milosav ,   University of Pristina temporary settled in Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Agriculture, Lešak, Kosovo and Metohia, Serbia, Sekularac Andrej ,   Independent researcher, Novi Pazar, Serbia, Gošić Dondo Snežana ,   Maize research institute “Zemun Polje”, Laboratory of Phytopathology and Entomology, Belgrade, Serbia, Aksić Miroljub ,   University of Pristina temporary settled in Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Agriculture, Lešak, Kosovo and Metohia, Serbia, Rajičić Vera ,   University of Niš, Faculty of Agriculture in Kruševac, Kruševac, Serbia
Published: February 2025

Agricultural production heavily depends on pest and disease outbreaks, which often act as limiting factors. While the most environmentally friendly solution would be to completely eliminate or limit chemical treatments, such treatments are necessary due to a large number of factors. Therefore, minimizing the number of chemical treatments plays a crucial role in environmental protection. In an effort to find the most effective insecticide treatment against the economically significant pest cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus L.), we tested the efficacy of insecticides in the field. The study was conducted in the area of Laplje Selo, Gračanica Municipality, Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, Serbia. In addition to climate changes that adversely affected the crop itself, the presence of pests was recorded, with the cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus) being the most prevalent. The research was carried out during 2023/2024 on the Đokić family farm. Agro-meteorological conditions were favorable for the survival and development of the pest. The experiment examined the presence of the cereal leaf beetle on two wheat varieties, „Zvezdana“ and „Sofra,“ with four variants. The first variant served as a control without chemical protection, while the other three variants were treated with insecticides containing different active ingredients in concentrations recommended by the manufacturers. Two foliar insecticides were used: Decis 2.5 EC (deltamethrin – 25 g L-1) and Laidir 10 CS (lambda-cyhalothrin – 100 g L-1), along with a seed treatment before sowing using the insecticide Coup 200 SL (imidacloprid – 200 g L-1). Based on the research findings and monitoring of this pest, the highest intensity of infestation was observed in the control variant, while both foliar insecticides proved effective in protecting against the cereal leaf beetle. In the variant where seeds were treated before sowing, a lower infestation intensity was also recorded, with no significant damage observed. The insecticide Decis 2.5 EC demonstrated the highest efficacy when analyzing variations in damaged flag leaves. Both foliar insecticides achieved maximum efficacy (100%) 14 days after treatment.