88 Secțiunea III CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE ON ARTHROPOD PESTS OF GOOSEBERRIES AND CURRANTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA 1,2 Iurcu-Străistaru Elena, 1 Munteanu-Molotievskiy Natalia, 2 Știrschii Cristina, 1 Moldovan Anna, 2 Țiganaş Ana, 2Cirlig Natalia 1Institute of Zoology of the ASM, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova 2Tiraspol State University, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova e-mail: [email protected] The Republic of Moldova has all the natural conditions for intensive developmentof horti- culture. This brunch from old times was and likely to remain one of the main illarsp of national agriculture, because it is a source of wealth, leading to efficiency of the entireagricultural sector of the country. The horticultural sector – primary production and processing industry has a multiple role in the agro-economy of the country, generating and stimulating added value on others branches, such as trade construction and financial services. Presently planted fruit growing represent one of the main strategic branches on the na- tional economy, accounting for approximately 19% on the total agricultural production value. The area of fructiferous plantation in 2015 totalled 94,5 thousand hectares, including fruit or- chards 88,3 thousand hectares or 94,1 % of total fruit production. Orchards are maintained using advanced agro technologies and high quality award plantations. A significant highlight is our great varieties of fruits, which include now both local and popular international breeds. Soil and climate conditions rather favourable for our country, traditions and experience accumula- ted allow cultivation of more than 50 varieties of fructiferous fruit orchards, obtaining of reach yield and a substitute imports of fruit products, including berries. Gooseberries and currants are one of the target cultures for development of the Food and Agroindustrial Complex in the Republic of Moldova. A great economic potential presents the use of currant and gooseberries both fresh and processed. These berries are important energetic resources, a source of nutrients and also can be used in curative scope. Safe and economically feasible production of gooseberry and currant is largely determined by the impact of pests that compromise quality and quantity of the yield, depending on the degree of infestation and abun- dance of pest species. The aim of this study is to investigate pest arthropods in ooseberryg and currant and their impact on yields, during the growing season (April to September) in agroce- nosis near Criuleni and Ialoveni. Data on insect pest associations on gooseberry and currant were recorded through direct observations and using standard entomological methods (sweep netting and manual collection). Species associations and specific damages to osth plant were re- vealed. The taxonomy of the collected insect species, dealt with below is based primarily on the works of Busuioc (2007), Manolache (2007), Perju (2001). Also, for taxonomical identification, museum collections of the Institute of Zoology have been used. Altogether 22 pest arthropod species were revealed including insects, mites and spiders the last two being more abundant. Following species were common and abundant for both fruit crops: Nematus leucotrochus Har- tig 1837, Nematus ribesii Scopoli 1763, Pachynematus pumilio Konow 1903 (Hymenoptera), Synanthedon tipuliformis Clerck 1759, Amblyptilia acanthadactyla Hübner 1813, Lampronia capitella Clerck 1759, Lampronia mesospilella Herrich-Schäffer, 1853, Zophodia grossulariella Hübner 1809 (Lepidotera), Tetranychus urticae Koch 1836, Bryobia praetiosa Koch 1835 (Trom- bidiformes), Cecidophyopsis ribis Westwood 1869 and Aceria scaber Nalepa 1893 (Prostigmata). In gooseberries, the density of pests was lower than in currant, determined by the presence of xeromorphic adaptations. The more abundant comparative to currant in gooseberry was species Aphis grossulariae Kaltenbach 1843 (Hemiptera). Also was attested the presence of Pseudoopho- nus (Pseudoophonus) rufipes De Geer 1774, Sciaphobus (Neosciaphobus) squalidus Gyllenhal 1834 (Coleoptera), Contarinia ribis Kieffer 1909 (Diptera), Lygocoris rugicollis Fallén 1807, Cica- della viridis Linnaeus 1758 (Hemiptera). Study of pest arthropod assemblages and their impact on currant and gooseberry fruit crops is essential for developing pest management programs..