The spread and occurrence of the oak lace bug Corythucha arcuata out of its natural distribution area across European and Asian countries has been reported during the past decades. The ecological and economic significance of oak stands and the vulnerability of plants to various abiotic and/or biotic factors requires in-depth knowledge of plant-pest interaction. The present study examined the influence of C. arcuata feeding on the photosynthetic characteristics and gas-exchange parameters, mineral nutrient concentrations and defense mechanisms (the activities of some antioxidant enzymes) of leaves of pedunculate oak. The rate of photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance were lowered by 58.84, 21.66 and 35.71%, respectively, in comparison to non-infested plants. The concentrations of photosynthetic pigments and activities of antioxidant enzymes, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase, were affected by the presence of C. arcuata. To our knowledge this is the first paper providing a report on the physiological responses of Quercus robur plants exposed to C. arcuata infestation. Understanding the impact of pests, such as the invasive species C. arcuata on physiological processes and vitality of young plants and plant responses, could provide a foundation for efficient preservation of oak forests endangered by the oak lace bug.

Rodents belong to the group of occasionally economically significant to very significant pests. Some species, especially synanthropic species, cause material damage in various ways. Successful and sustainable management of rodent control strategies requires different procedures such as prevention and rodent control measures. The present study gives an overview of the most common rodent species and methods for estimating the rodent population to assess the risk of economic damage that may occur due to rodents feeding in field crops, gardens, orchards, and young forest plantations, as well as contamination of stored food. As a prerequisite for effective integrated control of mice and voles, it is necessary to implement an adequate long-term monitoring system of these species, as they are primary pests. The integrated approach improves the treatment efficacy and reduces the treatment costs but also is considered ecologically friendlier compared to conventional measures. An integrated approach should provide an effective strategy for rodent management and control in all types of rodent habitats, from agricultural and forestry production fields to residential and public areas. By combining different preventive measures, it is possible to prevent the presence of pests, which will therefore result in a reduction of pesticide use.

Three new invasive species of aphids have been found in Serbia: Chaitophorus populifolli Essig, Myzocallis walshii (Monell) and Trichosiphonaphis polygonifoliae (Shinji) and two have been found in Montenegro: Aphis illinoisensis Shimer and Tinocallis kahawaluokalani (Kirkaldy). A. illinoisensis is a pest of the grapevine, T. polygonifoliae, feeds on a decorative shrub (Lonicera) and the other three feed on trees (Populus, Quercus and Lagerostroemia). Three of the species are American aphids and two are of Asian origin. Their morphology, illustrated by original drawings and data on the biology and distribution are given. .

In this study, five poplar clones (Populus deltoides cl. PE19/66, cl. S1-8, cl. 135/81, and Populus × euramericana cl. I-214, cl. Pannonia) and two white willow clones (Salix alba cl. 380, cl. 107/65-9) were tested in pot trials. The aim was to evaluate their potential for phytoextraction of nine heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in three substrates, two based on soil from landfills near Belgrade and Novi Sad, and one control treatment based on nursery soil. The shoot content of all analyzed heavy metals was the highest in the BG substrate with the highest content of heavy metals and the lowest in the control substrate. White willow clone 107/65-9 achieved the highest accumulation of Cd, Cr, Fe, Ni and Pb and along with another willow clone 380 is found to act as generalists. Poplar clones performed more as specialists: I-214 and Pannonia for copper, PE 19/66 for manganese and S1-8 for nickel and zinc. Considerable differences among examined clones in heavy metal accumulation and reaction to substrates should be taken into consideration in further pot and field trials as well as in phytoremediation projects on landfills.

Poplars and willows have been cultivated for their environmental benefits for millennia. In the present study, physiological responses were examined in three poplar and three willow clones grown in soil from the landfills near Novi Sad and Belgrade, Serbia. The experiment, conducted under controlled conditions in pots with soil directly from the landfill sites, aimed to identify the most suitable clones based on their physiological performance on examined substrates. Within the process of phyto-recurrent selection, six clones were selected for this experiment: Populus deltoides cl. PE 19/6, PE 4/68, S 1-8, and Salix alba cl. 107/65-9, 79/64-2, 380. Four physiological parameters (net photosynthesis [A], transpiration [E], water use efficiency [WUE], and stomatal conductance [gs]) were measured throughout the research. Analysis of variance revealed that certain clones exhibited superior physiological responses compared to others. The superior performance of poplar clones PE 4/68 and S 1-8 in key physiological parameters underscores their potential for improving growth, resilience, carbon sequestration, and overall ecological and economic benefits, making them valuable candidates for forestry and environmental management programs.

The oak lace bug (Corythucha arcuata Say) was introduced to Europe from North America in 2000 and was first recorded in Serbia in 2013. It is a very serious oak pest which has harmful effect in both adult and nymph stages of the insect that feeds by sucking the sap on the lower (abaxial) leaf side. As this is a relatively new pest in our country, the possibility of its control by applying insecticides was tested during 2021. The paper presents the test results of three insecticidal active substances: deltamethrin, flonicamid and acetamiprid for the control of oak lace bugs. The insecticide flonicamid did not show sufficient efficacy in the suppression of the oak lace bug, while deltamethrin and acetamiprid have high efficiency for the suppression of the adults and nymphs of the oak lace bug, which recommended them for this purpose.