Sustainable management of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), in infested areas: experiences in Italy, Hungary and the USA

The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is the most important pest of maize in the Midwestern USA, and since its detection in 1992 in Europe, also in several countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Methods for managing this pest vary from region to region, depending upon: the different cultural practices in maize production, climatic conditions, soil types, pest behaviour, infestation level and socio-economic conditions. Factors including date of planting, amount of rotated or continuous maize, irrigation, date of rootworm hatching and differences in behaviour of the pest, necessitate developing different management strategies in different areas of the infested countries. Pest monitoring, damage evaluation, threshold development, use of insecticides, risk estimation and crop rotation are some of the starting points in the development of management strategies. Approaches and experiences in D. v. virgifera control and management in Italy, Hungary and the USA, based on the understanding of local agro-ecosystems and socio-economic conditions, are reported.