STUDIES ON CERTAIN INSECTS ATTACKING POTATOES IN BEHIRA GOVERNORATE

Abstract

Egypt is one of the third world countries suffering from steady expanston of population. This demands increases in food production. In Egypt m ore than one million feddan cu lti vated with vegetable crops for both loca l consumption and export. Potato is one of the most important vegetable crops which cultivated in two season plantation a year. Potato is infested with a grou p of insect· pests either on the field or after harvesting and storage. Phthorimaea operculella (zeller) is one of these insect pest infests potato during the growth period of plant, when the larvae live in mines in fol iage and stem. Also, it infest the tubers in soil perior to harvesting and continue attacking it in storage. Potato is also, attack by a group plant sap­ sucki ng insects, white fly Bemisia tabaci (Genn) (adult and immature stages), aplllds Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (adult and nymphs) and also Empoasca fabae (Harris) (adults and nymphs). These insect pests are the most efficient in transference small Diseases. As far, the economic importance of the four mentioned insect pests on potat o, the present stud y was carried out as a trail to shed light on some aspects includin g:- variety susceptibility, plantin g d ates and level of fertilization in •·elation to infestation rates with each of the fo u•·insect