Department
of Agricultural Zoology
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture
Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Pavilion III, Ground Floor
Services and products
Improvement and introduction of integrated and environmentally friendly plant protection
In cooperation with agricultural producers integrated and environmentally friendly plant protection systems against pests, nematodes, and snails are introduced. Department employees carry out training of farmers for the implementation of integrated pest management ("field schools"). Measures of biological crop protection are also introduced through the use of natural pest enemies (predatory and parasitic insects, mites, nematodes and fungi). Species of parasitic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae (suppression of Codling Moth) and Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (suppression of harmful snails in gardening cultures), parasitic wasps Encarsia formosa, predatory true bugs Macrolophus caliginosus and entomopathogenic fungus Verticillium Lecanii (suppression of shield flower moth in greenhouse tomato) have been used in the field studies.
prof. dr. sc. Renata Bažok, prof. dr. sc. Božena Barić, prof. dr. sc. Tanja Gotlin Čuljak, doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić, doc. dr. sc. Aleksandar Mešić
Research in phytopharmacy
In cooperation with pesticides manufacturers, research is carried out on the effectiveness, residual effects and environmental impacts, particularly on biodiversity of registered pesticides. As a part of this research a spread of certain pests resistance to certain pesticides is being observed.
prof. dr. sc. Renata Bažok, prof. dr. sc. Božena Barić, prof. dr. sc. Tanja Gotlin Čuljak, doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić, doc. dr. sc. Aleksandar Mešić
Application of pesticides
In cooperation with producers of agricultural crops and ornamental plants and pesticide producers Department investigates the application of modern equipment and new techniques and the possibility for applying the reduced dosage and combination of individual pesticides. In the urban entomology a pest control is conducted using the endotherapeutic tehnique of treating plants by injecting insecticides into the trunk of ornamental trees.
doc. dr. sc. Aleksandar Mešić
Soil and plant sample analyses for the presence of cyst nematodes and free living nematodes
Morphological and molecular identification of harmful species of nematodes, determining the viability and number of nematode populations for making recommendations.
doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić
Soil and plant sample analyses for the presence of harmful and beneficial insects
Determination of harmful and beneficial insect fauna.
prof. dr. sc. Renata Bažok, prof. dr. sc. Božena Barić, prof. dr. sc. Tanja Gotlin Čuljak, doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić, doc. dr. sc. Aleksandar Mešić
Analysis and determination of slugs
doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić
Studies, programs, advisements
Studies, programs and advisements are made in accordance with the requesta and needs of agricultural producers, pesticide manufacturers and other organizations.
prof. dr. Božena Barić, prof. dr. Renata Bažok, prof. dr. sc. Tanja Gotlin Čuljak, doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić, doc. dr. sc. Aleksandar Mešić
Genetic research - molecular methods
Molecular identification of harmful insect species (Agriotes sp.) and nematodes (Globodera rostochiensis Woll., Mulvey & Stone and Globodera pallida Stone) based on the basic molecular methods (DNA isolation, PCR, sequencing). Genotyping and analysis of intra - and interpopulation genetic variability of major pests in agriculture (Cydia pomonella L., Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) by using molecular markers (microsatellites). Analyses of molecular phylogeny are used to define the relationship between species based on differences in DNA sequences.
dr.sc. Ivana Pajač Živković, Maja Čačija, dipl.ing, Darija Lemić, dipl.ing
Experimental stations and laboratories
Laboratory of Nematology
Laboratory is equipped with a device for extracting cyst nematodes from soil samples (Spears, 1968) and a device for extracting free living nematodes from samples of soil and plants (Oostenbrink - MECCA GmbH).
Head of the Laboratory of Nematology: doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić
Laboratory of Entomology
Laboratory is equipped with equipment for the identification, cultivation and study of the biology and ecology of harmful and beneficial insects.
Head of the Laboratory of Entomology: dr.sc. Ivana Pajač Živković
History of the Department of Agricultural Zoology
With the founding of the Faculty for Agriculture and Forestry in 1919 zoological and entomological cabinets were created. In 1932 they were united and Department of Entomology was established. After separation of the Forestry and Agricultural Faculties, Department for Entomology expands and changes the name to the Department of Agricultural Zoology, which it still holds today. Over this period many world renowned scientists like prof. dr. A. Korlević, prof. dr. A. Langhoffer, prof. dr. B. Hergula, prof. dr. A. Kurir, prof. dr. Z. Kovačević, prof. dr. L. Schmidt, and two academics Z. Lorković and M. Maceljski worked at the Department. The first Head of the Department was prof. dr. A. Korlević.
Work at the Department began with the research of insects and other animals (dust mites, nematodes, snails, rodents) followed by research of biology and ecology and the possibility of control of the harmful species. The Department studied the methods of pesticide application and particular attention was paid to non pesticide methods in plant protection, especially biological control.
Specialists of the Department have a long cooperation with all relevant professionals and institutions worldwide. Scientific work is reflected by the 12 USDA projects, COST projects, FAO projects, SEERA NET.PLUS, IPA, CSF and numerous other foreign and domestic projects. In the field of integrated and environmentally friendly pest management Department has a leading role in this part of Europe. First in Europe (excluding the former USSR) Department introduced the insect species Zygogramma suturalis from the United States for biological control of weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia, and in the field of biological weed and insect control significant results have been made. Department experts are researching the biology and ecology of quarantine pests in Croatia, especially corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera and Globodera rostochiensis. In the Department the fauna of Aphidina, Heteroptera, Coccinelidae, Elateridae, and nematodes are specifically studied. The results of these studies are included in a great number of published scientific papers.
Since 1962 the Department has held a postgraduate study of Phytomedicine where a number of distinguished scientists have acquired the degree of Master of Science. Employees of the Department and especially Academician Milan Maceljski were also the founders of the profile of Plant Protection at the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb.
In collaboration with other Departments, the Department of Agricultural Zoology has been the organizer of the Seminar in plant protection for 57 years. The results of continuous scientific and expert work define this Department as a leading learning institution in the Republic of Croatia and a significant participant of entomological and zoological profession in the world.