The effects of two pyrethroid (lambda-cyhalothrin, alpha-cypermethrin) and two neonicotinoid (acetamiprid, thiacloprid) insecticides on B. pisorum L. eggs were compared under field conditions in the Czech Republic in 2005–2007. The main objective of the study was to find out what real effects can be expected from the available insecticides registered in Europe when applied at the time of the first egg occurrence on lower pods. In general, the rates of Bruchus pisorum egg (+ first instar larvae) survival were significantly lower with all the insecticides compared in the study, in each of the three years (2005, 2006, 2007). The tested insecticides showed some ovicidal effects and also some larvicidal effects. The tested pyrethroids (lambda-cyhalothrin, alpha-cypermethrin) showed somewhat higher effectiveness in comparison with the neonicotinoids (acetamiprid, thiacloprid). Alpha-cypermethrin was the most effective in all three years. In 2006 and in 2007 this insecticide significantly reduced the rates of egg survival in comparison with acetamiprid. In contrast, acetamiprid was the least effective insecticide in each of the three years.

Seidenglanz M., Rotrekl J., Smýkalová I., Poslušná J., Kolařík P. (2010): Differences between the effects of insecticidal seed and foliar treatments on pea leaf weevils (Sitona lineatus L.) in the field pea (Pisum sativum L.). Plant Protect. Sci., 46: 19-27.Tested seed treatments (two doses of thiamethoxam, thiamethoxam + fludioxonil + metalaxyl-M; two doses of clothianidin + beta-cyfluthrin) showed high effects on pea leaf weevils (Sitona lineatus L.) which approved relatively long-lasting and sufficient protection of several bottom nodes of stipules simultaneously. The effects of foliar treatments (chlorpyrifos + cypermethrin; acetamiprid, lambda-cyhalothrin) sometimes were evident only on the node which was determined as the youngest node at the time of spraying. The effects of the compared seed and foliar treatments on the reduction of S. lineauts larvae numbers on roots were not proven as positive. It is possible to conclude that the foliar application had no real effect in this sense at all. However, positive significant effects of thiamethoxam and clothianidin + beta-cyfluthrin on root nodulation in general were recorded. Especially higher doses of the seed treatments increased overall nodulation from 43% till 363%.

Seidenglanz M., Poslušná J., Rotrekl J., Kolařík P., Hrudová E., Tóth P., Havel J., Bernardová M.

Seidenglanz M., Poslušná J., Rotrekl J., Kolařík P., Hrudová E., Tóth P., Havel J., Spitzer T., Bernardová M.

Seidenglanz M., Poslušná J., Kolařík P., Rotrekl J., Hrudová E., Tóth P., Havel J., Plachká E., Táncik J., Hudec K. (2017)

Rotrekl J., Cejtchaml J. (2008): Control by seed dressing of leaf weevils of the genus Sitona (Col.: Curculionidae) feeding on sprouting alfalfa. Plant Protect. Sci., 44: 61-67.In tests with artificial infestation of alfalfa by leaf weevils in the greenhouse and also in small-plot trials with natural infestation of sprouting alfalfa it was found that without protection alfalfa is seriously damaged by leaf weevil feeding. After evaluation of the feeding damage by weevils, the damage to plants in the untreated plot was classed as 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th degree on a five-level scale. Plant growth was seriously restricted and in warm and dry weather plants may die. The results demonstrate that in both kinds of trials the pre-sowing treatment of alfalfa seed significantly reduces the feeding of leaf weevils on sprouting alfalfa. No negative effects of insecticidal seed dressing on germination energy and germination were observed. On the basis of the three-year trials, the dressing insecticides Cruiser 350 FS (active ingredient thiamethoxan) and Elado 480 FS (active ingredients beta-cyfluthrin and clothianidin), both at a dose of 20 l/t, can be recommended as an effective method to protect alfalfa against leaf weevils.

The clover seed weevils, Apion trifolii and Protapion apricans, members of the genus Apion, are responsible for causing serious economic damage in clover. In 2010-2012, the effectiveness of some insecticides against clover seed weevils in the genus Apion were tested in red clover stands. The efficacy of different products was evaluated on the basis of analyses of specimens trapped in the herb layer of red clover using a sweep net and red clover heads sampled in individual plots. Over the course of these trials, the applications of the products tested resulted in a marked reduction in their numbers (particularly of adults and, to a lesser extent, also of larvae). The highest efficacy was observed with Biscaya 240 (A.I. thiacloprid) and Mospilan 20 SP (A.I. acetamiprid). Results obtained in this study corroborated the low efficacy of the insecticide Karate Zeon Technology 5 CS against seed weevils of the genus Apion.

From 2007-2011, the occurrence of ground beetles (<em>Coleoptera</em>: <em>Carabidae</em>) was studied using emergence traps in two differently managed alfalfa fields in the Czech Republic - a conventional and an ecological production system. In total, 784 specimens of ground beetles representing 58 species were trapped in these two alfalfa fields in South Moravia. A slightly higher number of specimens were trapped in the conventionally managed than in the ecological alfalfa stand (404 <em>vs</em> 380, respectively). In the conventionally managed alfalfa stand, the number of species was also higher than in the ecological stand (45 <em>vs</em> 40, respectively). With the exception of 2007 and 2009, Simpson’s indices of diversity were higher in the conventional stand than in the ecological in all study years. Shannon’s index was higher in the conventional alfalfa field in 2008, 2009, and 2011. Regarding distribution, species classified into group E (<em>i.e.</em>, those without special demands on the type and quality of their habitat) dominated in both types of management throughout the experimental period. The incidence of species classified into group R (<em>i.e</em>., those with narrow ecological amplitude) was very low;<em> i.e</em>., only four species. These ground beetle species are included in the Red List of Threatened Species of the Czech Republic, and all of them (<em>i.e</em>. <em>Acupalpus</em> <em>suturalis</em>, <em>Calosoma</em> <em>auropunctatum</em>, <em>Cicindela</em> <em>germanica</em> and <em>Ophonus</em> <em>cribricollis</em>) are listed as vulnerable.