The bioindicative research conducted in 1998 concerned the soil polluted by lead in the region ofGlass Factory in Krosno. Potato beetle larvae descending to soil for pupation were the soil bioindicator. Samples of soil were collected in the distance of 500 to 1,000 m from the factory emitters, and later the lead content was determined in the Chemical Agricultural Station in Rzeszów. The lead level in the l" pollution zone was 200.0 mg Pb/kg while in the 2"d zone 70.0 mg/kg, and in the soil sample from the control field the level was 12.0 mg/kg. The obtained results of the analysis conducted in the laboratory of the Regional Experimental Station did not show any significant differences between both the beetle mass which emerged from the soil, and their number from the control field and the experimental one.

The research on the repellent effect of Tanacetum vulgare L. on Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) was conducted in 1997-2000. The results, which were obtained from the laboratory and field examinations, showed a good effectiveness against beetles as well as their individual development stages. Powdered leaves and flowers of the plant both in powdered form and in water slurry were used in the experiments. Due to the lack of its toxic effect on man, T. vulgare can be used in small potato plantations near settlements as well as in ecological farms.

Soil, the main element of natural environment is constantly contaminated and degraded by various man's activities. Big industrial factories, which emit to the atmosphere excessive quantities of harmful solid, liquid and gaseous substances, are the main cause of this phenomenon. Lm proper usage of fertilisers and chemical plant protection agents effects the soil in a lesser degree, but it is still unfavourable. The aim of this research was to use potato beetle larva in stage L4 as a soil bioindicator fi-om the plantations of spring wheat, potatoes, and corn which were treated with herbicides. The obtained results did not show any negative effect of herbicides used on potato beetle larva growing in the soil.

The research was conducted to evaluate the impact of sulphur compounds on the sex of Colorado potato beetle in the region of sulphur factory in Chmielów near Tarnobrzeg in 1995. The control plantations were situated in the village of Zarębki, about 30km from Chmielów. The object of the study was the average body mass of female and male specimen of the insect after full spring beetle appearance in potato plantations as well as the average body female and male mass after pupation of the larvae of the first generation and emerging from the soil. After six and twelve days of starvation, the average female and male body mass was determined. After twelve days of starvation the incident of cannibalism was noticed among the beetles of the first zone polluted by sulphur compounds.

The research on the influence of pollution emitted by the WBM-30 bituminous mass factories on the winter wheat-crop was carried out in 1981. The factory was situated in the agricultural area far from the farm buildings in the village of Trzebownisko. The experimental area was divided into four zones (three zones of pollution and one control zone). The wheat ear samples were collected during full grain ripeness per 100 ears from different plantations in three repetitions in each zone. They showed that all examined features, such as, e.g. the average ear length and I OOO grain mass were substantially different between the l" pollution zone and control zone.