Intrastem pests of black currant: monitoring and biological control in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine

The Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine is characterized by the most favorable soil and climatic conditions for industrial cultivation of black currant (Ribes Nigrum L.), but pests can cause considerable damage to plantations. Among the dominant phytophages of black currant, the most common and dangerous are intrastem pests: jewel beetle (Agrilus ribesi Schaefer) and currant clearwing (Synanthedon tipuliformis Cl.). By monitoring black currant plantations by these pests for 2-3 years and understanding the factors influencing their development, it is possible to build a phenological calendar of pests, which will allow to carry out the necessary protection measures in a timely manner. As these pests are intrastem, this means that the damage is caused mainly by larvae. Controlling their numbers is not an easy task, because the use of pesticides can’t achieve high efficiency. That is why the development of biological protection is important, namely the use of entomophages and entomopathogenic nematodes to control the number of these pests.