Experts named the most dangerous quarantine pests of Tatarstan.

      Experts named the most dangerous quarantine pests of Tatarstan

      According to specialists, the California thrips destroys about 300 species of plants in the region, while more than 100 species of insects hunt for grain. In Tatarstan, a systematic fight against quarantine and especially dangerous pests continues, posing a serious threat to food security and the agricultural potential of the region, writes "Evening Kazan." As reported by Idris Gatin, deputy head of the Tatarstan branch of the federal Center for Safety and Quality Assessment of Agricultural Products, one of the most dangerous quarantine objects is the western flower, or California, thrips, which affects over 300 species of cultivated plants. This microscopic pest sucks out cell sap, deforms leaves and buds, leading to their complete drying out, and also acts as a carrier of dangerous viral diseases. A similar threat is posed by the "Palm" thrips, which damages more than 50 species of vegetable and ornamental plants, recognizable by its characteristic light spots and black dots of excretions. Upon detection of any quarantine object, information is immediately transmitted to the Rosselkhoznadzor for action. As for grain crops, according to Gatin, more than 100 species of pests "hunt" them, divided into storage and field pests. Among the former, the most dangerous are weevils and click beetles, which can even damage flour, while among field pests, the "harmful turtle bug" stands out, which pierces stems and grains, depriving them of gluten and making them unsuitable for baking. An annual preventive measure is large-scale monitoring of grain storage facilities, fields, and greenhouses, with pheromone traps remaining one of the most effective methods. It was previously reported that a record number of red-listed saker falcons were released in Tatarstan.