Complex of soil-borne and surface seedling pests

The complex of soil-borne and surface seedling pests includes various insect species that attack germinating seeds and young seedlings. This group comprises members of the orders Coleoptera (families Elateridae, Scarabaeidae, Tenebrionidae), Lepidoptera (family Noctuidae), and Diptera (family Chloropidae). These pests are highly destructive due to their ability to damage plants during the most sensitive vegetative stage, leading to significant yield losses.

These pests affect a wide range of economically important crops. The most affected plants include sugar beet, winter rapeseed, annual sunflower, winter barley, tomatoes, winter wheat, and corn. Because these crops are often planted in early spring or autumn, they are particularly susceptible to attacks when soil temperatures promote pest activity, but plant growth is still relatively slow.

The biology of these pests is diverse. Soil-borne larvae, such as wireworms, live in the ground for several years, feeding on roots and underground stems. In contrast, surface-feeding pests, like cutworm larvae, emerge from the soil at night to sever plant stems. Their development is strictly governed by soil moisture levels, temperature, and food availability, often making their appearance difficult to predict without proper field monitoring.

Pest damage typically manifests as gaps in crop stands, wilted seedlings, or completely destroyed plant clusters. The damage is often irreversible once the seedling's apical meristem or root system is severely compromised. Host plants that lose their initial growth vigor due to pest feeding become more vulnerable to secondary fungal infections and environmental stress, further reducing the overall crop stand density.

Integrated pest management (IPM) is essential to mitigate these risks. Key strategies include:

• Seed treatment with systemic insecticides to provide a protection zone around the seed.
• Adopting effective crop rotation schemes that break the life cycles of specific pests.
• Cultivation practices like plowing and harrowing to disturb soil habitats.
• Optimizing planting dates to avoid the peak activity periods of the most harmful stages.
• Using soil sampling and pheromone traps to assess pest pressure before deciding on treatments.