Experimental cucumber and tomato plants were cultivated under glasshouse conditions with or without PGPR. Young plants were infested with spider mites (T urticae - cucumber and T cinnabarinus - tomato). Leaves were analysed for protein and amino acid concentration. In infested leaves of the cucumber cultivar, susceptible to spider mites (Corona), an important decrease in protein content occurred in both bacterized and nonbacterized plants. Amino acid content was higher in mite infested leaves and the presence of PGPR did not influence this phenomenon. The content of proteins was also studied in the leaves of the less susceptible cucumber cultivar (Aramis). Spider mite feeding caused a small decrease in their concentration. The presence of bacteria in the root system caused an increase of soluble proteins in the leaves. In infested leaves of the highly susceptible tomato cultivar (Rornatos), cultivated without bacteria, an evident increase of amino acid content was found opposite to plants with PGPR. The protein concentration was also increased in injured leaves of this cultivar but the presence of bacteria in the root system of mite infested plants caused a decrease of these compounds in their leaves. Injured foliage of the less susceptible tomato cultivar (Sionka) had a lower protein concentration in bacterised plants as compared to those nonbacterised and both controls.

The influence of PGPR on the susceptibility of glasshouse cucumber and tomato to spider mites was studied. It was found that plants treated with PGPR suppressed the development of mite populations on both studied crops. The effect was more evident for cucumber, as compared to tomato plants. Mite population was smaller by more than 40% on the leaves of the susceptible cucumber cultivar, Corona growing in the presence of rhizobacteria, as compared to that without bacteria. The development of spider mite population on the bacterized susceptible tomato cultivar, Romatos was more inhibited on young leaves (43%) than on older ones (34%). As the injury of plants progressed the level of inhibition was decreased.

Bionomy of spruce spider mite (SSM) (Oligonychus ununguis Jacobi) on five species/cultivars of spruce and two species of cypress was studied under laboratory conditions during rwo consecutive growing seasons. The study showed influence of host-plant food on development time, fecundity and longevity of SSM. The comparison of intrinsic rate of natural increase (r,J indicates the highest reproduction potential of SSM on Picea pungens (0.18), P. abies 'Nidiformis' (0.17), and P. glauca 'Conica' (0.14). SSM had much lowest rm on P. omorica (O.OS) and P abies 'Virgata' (O.Ol). The reproductive potential of SSM on rested species of cypresses was similar: 0.12 and 0.10 on Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Golden Wonder" and C. pisifera 'Nana Aureovariegata', respectively. The results obtained clearly indicate that the population parameters can be a proper indicator ofrelative susceptibility/resistance of commercially available species/cultivars of spruce and cypress plants to SSM.

The rose flea beetle, RFB (Luperomorpha xanthodera Fairmaire 1888) is a new flower pest in Europe. In 2012, it was brought accidentally to central Poland. To search for this introduced species in the area adjacent to the site of the first finding, 29 plant species belonging to five botanical families (Lamiaceae, Brassicaceae, Asteraceae, Plantaginaceae, Crassulaceae) were monitored over a 3-year-long study (2016−2018). RFB were found on 11 herbaceous/ ornamental plant species (Lamiaceae, Brassicaceae, Asteraceae) along with feeding damage to the flowers. White mustard (Sinapis alba L., Brassicaceae), hyssop (L.), and Monarda spp. (Lamiaceae) were its most preferred host plants. In each season, RFB females preferred host plants which bloomed abundantly and vividly. However, among the examined plant species there was a large variation in the year-to-year RFB abundance. Over the examined period the RFB extended its abundance exponentially, and its population survived and established itself in the area. The general sex ratio of the beetles was strongly female biased. In the female pool, females with conspicuously swollen abdomens predominated. The results of our study provide more insight into RFB behaviour, its establishment and spreading into new areas. To support the evidence for the RFB risk factor as an agricultural/ horticultural pest, further research should focus on the beetles’ biology, reproductive tactics, larval host plant preference, larva-inflicted damage and harmfulness, the impact of the RFB on the native fauna, as well as its further local and distant migration propensity. Presently our knowledge about these aspects is still fragmentary.