Monitoring of Oxythyrea Funesta and Tropinota Hirta Species in Fruit Shrub Plantations in Cluj County

Abstract

Two species of the family Cetoniidae are commonly found in agricultural ecosystems: Oxythyrea funesta (Poda, 1761) and Tropinota hirta (Poda, 1761). These are polyphagous, attacking annual plants, fruit trees and shrubs but also plants from spontaneous flora. In 2020-2022, the presence of these two pests in the blackberry and black currant plantations was monitored, using Barber traps and blue containers with ecomonal products, (E)-anethole & (E)-cinnamyl alcohol and (±)-lavandulol & 2-phenyletanol. Species have been identified by morphological characters. The studies were carried out in the blackberry collection from USAMV Cluj-Napoca and in the ecological currant plantation in Recea Cristur - Cluj County (Romania). In the variant with (E)-anethole & (E)-cinnamyl alcohol in the three years, 318 individuals were captured, of which 282 of Tropinota hirta Poda (representing 88.7% of the total catches) and 36 individuals of Oxythyrea fatesta Poda. In the variant with (±)-lavandulol & 2-phenyletanol in the three years, 218 individuals were captured of which 139 were Oxythyrea funesta Poda (representing 63.8% of the total catches) and 79 individuals of Tropinota hirta Poda. These ecomonal products may be useful in monitoring and/or control these species.  In Barber traps, catches were very low and they are not recommended in monitoring of these species.