The influence of western corn rootworm – Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera Le Conte attack, upon quality of corn seeds

Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte is considered one of the most important pests of corn grown in monoculture. Damage caused by the Western Corn Rootworm is considerable. The attack is produced by larvae and adults, serious affecting the grain production. Following laboratory analyzes may notice a decrease in the values of all track quality indicators for ears harvested from plants attacked by Diabrotica virgifera virgifera compared with the cobs from the healthy plants. Values of fat content of attacked cobs ranged from 2.76 and 4.23%, protein content ranged from 9.1 to 10.6% and starch between 69.7 and 70.5%. The average fat content of the cobs attacked percentage decreased by 11%, protein content by 16% and starch content dropped by less than one percent