Michael Zellner

Winter wheat and volunteer cereals as host plants for the western corn rootworm in Europe

Several cereals – including wheat have already been proved to be suitable as host plants of the western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) in laboratory experiments. Under field conditions, however, additional factors such as crop phenology may impede successful juvenile development of the pest insect. Early winter wheat varieties, for example, may mature and consequently lose root vigour – at a time when larvae are still foraging in the soil. Late varieties, on the other hand, may be more suitable for pest development. Last but not least, corn rootworm larvae may not be able to complete development before maturation of the regular crop, but some may survive until volunteer wheat plants appear after harvest. This small portion of the larval population may then be able to complete development in the already harvested winter wheat fields.