Diversity of Click Beetle Associated with Maize and Sunflower Crops from South and SouthEastern Romania

Abstract

Wireworms are considered key pests in agriculture across Europe, and are particularly important in Romania for maize and sunflower crops in favorable years. The present study aimed to evaluate the structure of the click beetle (Coleoptera:Elateridae) fauna associated with corn and sunflower crops in the south and south-east of Romania, based on the specimens collected during 5 years (2015-2019), in 25 plots from 9 localities belonging to 3 counties. The analysed material included a number of over 3000 specimens and the results showed a significantly high click beetles diversity represented by 16 species and a variety assigned to 9 genera and 8 subfamilies. At regional scale, dominant species were found: Agriotes ustulatus (22.15%), Drasterius bimaculatus (19.17%), Agriotes sputator (14.4%), Agriotes obscurus (11.45%), Agriotes lineatus (9.72%) and Selatosomus latus (8.84%). The analysis of the data highlights the similarity between the Elateridae communities in Călăraşi and Ialomița Counties, where the dominant species were A. ustulatus and A. sputator, and their net difference with the click-beetles communities in Constanța County, where the dominant species were D. bimaculatus, S. latus and A. sputator. The obtained results represent the starting point of a database on the wireworm fauna associated with maize and sunflower crops in Southern Romania, and bring basic information’s needed for further development of Integrated Pest Management.