Subterranean mobility of Sphodroxia maroccana larvae (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae),a pest the young cork oaks plantations in the Mamora forest, Morocco

Abstract: The larvae of Sphodroxia maroccana Ley (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) attack roots ofcork oak plants in the young plantations of the Mamora forest (North-East of Rabat, Morocco).Factors inferring larvae movements in the soil (sand) were analysed to improve the techniques offighting against this pest. Laboratory experiment was performed by creating a horizontal andvertical humidity gradient in the sand, with or without food. Larvae moved to reach optimalhumidity. Larvae showed low moving, with crossing distances ranging from 5.68 to 5.93cm perday under 40 to 60% humidity, and approximately 0.48cm a day when sand was dry (humidity