INSECT PESTS OF IMMORTELLE [Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don] IN FIELD PRODUCTION IN THE AREA OF HERZEGOVINA

Sa？etak In the last few years, immortelle (Helichrysum italicum) cultivation has experiencing rapid expansion and become a very important agricultural culture in the area of Herzegovina. Areas under immortelle are constantly increasing, and surfaces where immortelle is planted are ranging from 0.1 up to several tens of hectares. The total estimated area under immortelle in Herzegovina today is between 1500 hectares. A monoculture production system on large areas has resulted in appearing of some insect pests, causing significant damage at some sites. During two-year (2015-2016) harmful entomofauna of immortelle was researched at 19 sites in municipalities: ？itluk, ？apljina, Mostar, ？iroki Brijeg, Ljubu？ki, Grude and Posu？je. For the insect pests sampling, plants visual inspection method, were used. Insect pest’s determination was performed on the basis of the morphological characteristics of the adults. In total, nine different insect species from five orders were determined. The most significant damage on immortelle plants in both years of research, was caused by larvae of painted ladies (Vanessa cardui L.). Particularly significant damage was noted on seedlings of the H. italicum, so plant density was significantly reduced on certain sites. Extensive damage caused by adults of two weevil species Phyllobius argentatus L. and P. oblongus L. at several sites in municipality of ？iroki Brijeg was recorded. In addition to these pests, in most investigated sites, aphids from the genus Macrosiphoniella were also found