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In the context of climate change and excessive anthropogenic pressure, the adverse effects of pests in agrocenoses are increasing, leading to considerable losses of crop production and economic damages. During the growing season, it is necessary to conduct phytosanitary monitoring to identify and control the number, spread, and intensity of pests, followed by determining the level of danger and developing relevant plant protection measures. For this, from 2008 to 2022, the species composition of pests in aubergine plantations in open ground conditions in the central part of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine was studied. The study was conducted using conventional entomological methods. In aubergine plantations, 73 species of phytophagous insects from 25 families of 8 orders were found, which accounted for 93% of the pest structure, 2 species of mites (3%), 2 species of nematodes (3%), and one species of slugs (1%). The species diversity of insect phytophages was represented by insects from the orders: Coleoptera (20 species from 6 families), Lepidoptera (19 species from 5 families), Homoptera (14 species from 3 families), Diptera (9 species from 4 families), Orthoptera (5 species from 4 families), Thysanoptera (3 species from 1 family), Hemiptera (2 species from 1 family), Hymenoptera (1 species from 1 family). Among the ticks, the greatest damage was caused by the red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch.), which on average was inhabiting 10-50% of the area. The average number of Tetranychus urticae Koch. was 8.5 specimens/plant, with up to 35-44% damage, which exceeded the EWP by 3.5-4.4 times. The colonisation of aubergine areas by naked slugs was not significant (up to 12%), but plant damage reached 10-14%. Among the insect phytophages, the largest area of plantations was infested with the Colorado potato beetle, larvae of the maybeetle, and gnawing scoops, which averaged 35-100%. The most harmful during the growing season were the Colorado potato beetle and the European mole cricket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most widespread culture in the structure of fruit plantations in Ukraine is the apple tree. An important factor in the highly efficient production of apples is ensuring proper phytosanitary state of plantations and observing agrotechnological methods of growing, which is possible only with constant and long-term monitoring of the species composition, population dynamics, biological and ecological features of the entomoplex. The aim of the study conducted in 2005-2020 was to determine the ecological structure of the harmful entomocomplex of apple orchards under the conditions of the Central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Field, laboratory and chamber research methods generally accepted in ecology and entomology were used to fulfill the tasks. In the study, 52 species of phytophagous insects from 25 families and 7 orders were identified; 5 species of phytophagous mites from 3 families of Tetranychidae (Panonychus ulmi Koch., Tetranychus urticae Koch., Scizotetranychus pruni Oudms.), Bryobiidae (Bryobia redikorzevi Reck., syn: Bryobia praetiosa Koch.), Eriophyoidae (Eriophyes mali Nal.) were also found. The taxonomic structure of phytophagous insects was dominated by representatives of the orders of Lepidoptera (24 species), Coleoptera (14 species) and Homoptera (9 species), the portion of which collectively amounted to 90%. A range of Lepidoptera represented by 13 families was characterized by wide species diversity: Tortricidae, Gracillariidae, Yponomeutidae, Lyonetiidae, Cossidae, Sesiidae, Coleophoridae, Lasiocampidae, Geometridae, Pieridae, Arctiidae, Noctuidae, Orgyidae, which accounted for 46% of the harmful entomocomplex. The most numerous (dominant) species for the period 2005-2020 were three species of aphids (Aphis pomi De G, Dysaphis devecta Walk, Dysaphis mali Ferr.), apple moth (Carpocapsa pomonella L.) and leaf rollers (Archips rosana L.). In terms of trophic specialization, polyphages dominated 75% (39 species) of apple tree agrocenoses, 10% (5 species) of oligophagous insects, 15% (8 species) -- monophages. The life forms were dominated by phytophiles -- dendrobiotes, the percentage of which in the total structure of insect pests was about 90%. The species composition of harmful entomofauna and ecologically constant species of phytophagous insects in apple plantations in the Central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine were specified. A promising study is to clarify the features of the biology of the most harmful phytophagous insects under the conditions of climate change and to develop environmentally safe means of protecting apple plantations from pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]