RESEARCH ON THE ENTOMOFAUNA OF RASPBERRY PLANTATIONS IN THE GURENI AREA, GORJ COUNTY

Abstract

The present study investigated the entomofauna associated with a raspberry plantation in the Gureni area, Peștișani commune, Gorj County, Romania. During the study period, 68 insect species were reported and identified, belonging to eight orders: Coleoptera (20 species), Lepidoptera (17), Hymenoptera (9), Diptera (7), Heteroptera (6), Orthoptera (6), Neuroptera (2), and Dermaptera (1). Based on their role in the agroecosystem and their effects on cultivated plants, 47 species were classified as harmful, whereas 21 were considered beneficial, mainly predators and parasitoids. The results emphasize the diversity of insect communities associated with raspberry cultivation and the importance of beneficial entomofauna in the natural regulation of pest populations