CROATIA JOINS FAO PROJECT ON CORN BEETLE CONTROL

( Editorial: --> 5753 ) ZAGREB, Jan 20 (Hina) - At its last session, the Croatian government decided to initiate the procedure for joining the Food and Agriculture Organisation project on corn beetle control in Europe. By joining this international project, Croatia will be able to get expert help of FAO experts, information about the course of infestation and protection measures in other states, as well as baits for monitoring and educational material. The corn beetle (Diabratica virgifera LeConte) is presumed to have been introduced in Europe in mid 80's via the Belgrade airport. It was first noticed in Croatia through extensive monitoring in 1995. The spread of the beetle was registered in 1996 in Yugoslavia, Hungary, Croatia, and even in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Rumania. Experts from the United States and several European countries expressed the necessity of organised control of this pest. If urgent preventive measures are not undertaken, the corn beetle may become a major pest in several European countries. The beetle corn decreased corn yield by two tons per hectare in central and western states of the US. (hina) lm mm 201101 MET jan 98