An integrated methods to manage the corn ground beetle (Zabrus tenebrioides Goeze) in wheat field

This study presents a series of experiments on control techniques in the open field trials to monitor and manage the corn ground beetle (Zabrus tenebrioides Goeze) (Coleoptera: Carabidae). The larval stage is particularly harmful, as it feeds on cereal roots and constructs tunnels that damage the wheat crop while residing in the soil. The primary goal of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of various control measures in managing Z. tenebrioides populations and improving wheat yields. Thus, in Qalanchughan village three wheat varieties, the local (Hawler2, Hwler4) and the imported one (Wafia) were tested in the underground (prevention measures) such as organic fertilizers, biofertilizer, chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides and aboveground (control measure) like biopesticides and conventional pesticides. Regarding the underground prevention measures the lowest population of insect was 0.48 larvae/M2 with the highest biological yield (7132.22 kg/ha) of the cereal found in combined soil and seed treatment (organic humic acid + seed mycorrhizal fungi). The lowest population was found in the local variety Hawler4 which was 0.61 larvae/M2 and the highest population was found in Wafia which was 1.04 larvae/ M2. On the other hand, the aboveground treatments also differ in their effectiveness against Z. tenebrioides thus the lowest population of the larvae in 1/M2 was found in the chemical pesticide, Alphacypermethrin 0.38 larvae/ M2 that was not significantly different from Eucalyptus globulus extract which was 0.60 larvae/ M2. Furthermore, maximum biological yield and treatment efficiency were found in Alphacypermethrin followed by eucalyptus extract which was (5581.11 kg/ha and 108.54). The biopesticides and plant extracts can be used as part of integrated pest management techniques to lower the beetle populations and encourage sustainable farming.