NEW DATA ABOUT THE CONTROL OF THE PLANTHOPPER METCALFA PRUINOSA (SAY 1830) (HEMIPTERA: FLATIDAE) IN THE TOWN OF PITEŞTI (ARGEŞ COUNTY)

Metcalfa pruinosa (Say 1830), an invasive species mentioned in Romania in 2009, was observed first time in Piteşti in 2014, a city located in the central-southern part of Romania. In the favourable climatic conditions of the summer of 2015, high density of thedevelopment stages of the pest were seen on many host plants, both woody and herbaceous, in the green areas of the city. The insecticide treatments show the highest effectiveness for the mixture of imidacloprid 75 g/l, deltamethrin 10 g/l, lambda cyhalothrin 50 g/l, associated with pirimiphos methyl 500 g/l, within an interval of 3-5 days. It is important that treatments be applied in combination with 0.1% Silwet to facilitate the action of the active substance. Monitoring and chemical control are required in order to limit the spread of pests in places bordering the city, where there are important vineyards and orchards