ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PESTS WIDESPREAD IN WHEAT AND BARLEY FIELDS

Wheat and barley are among the most important food crops in the economy of Azerbaijan. Each year, cereal crops are cultivated on more than one million hectares. Particular attention is given to increasing the productivity of cereal crops in Azerbaijan. However, losses caused annually by plant diseases, insect pests, and weeds result in a 30–32% reduction in yields. Therefore, protecting cereal crops is essential for obtaining high and good-quality yields. To this end, the species composition of insect pests associated with wheat and barley was investigated. As a result of the study, six pest species were identified in wheat fields.