Since the success of the U.S. Boll Weevil Eradication Program and widespread adoption of genetically modified crops, the cotton fleahopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter), has reemerged as a significant cotton pest. Current management strategies for the pest are based primarily on foliar applications of insecticides. A line of cotton that produces modified Bt Cry51Aa2 protein was developed for Lygus spp., but the protein has also shown activity against the cotton fleahopper. Consequently, before this new Bt line can be released commercially, refuge requirements and other Insect Resistance Management (IRM) strategies mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency need to be established to prevent or delay development of resistance by cotton fleahopper to the new toxin. In response, we provide and discuss relevant information on the biology and ecology of the cotton fleahopper, including life history, host preference, dispersal, and population genetic structure, that may be useful for developing IRM strategies for the pest.

Cotton fleahopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae), is native to the southern United States and widespread throughout regions where cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is commercially grown. It is considered a major cotton pest only in certain cotton-growing regions, while in other areas it rarely reaches pest status. Bacterial symbionts associated with sucking insects have been linked to their pest status on their insect hosts. We tested whether variation in bacterial communities within P. seriatus correlated with pest status of the insect on cotton. We used 454 pyrosequencing of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene to characterize the bacterial microbiota associated with P. seriatus from eight cotton-growing regions in the United States. We found 65 bacterial taxa in the dataset, and three phyla, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota, accounted for 78.5, 16.3, and 4.6% of the bacterial community. Overall bacterial composition and diversity did not correlate with P. seriatus pest status or geographical origin. However, abundances of three taxa, Spiroplasma sp., Swaminathania, sp., and Aureimonas sp., were significantly different between regions in which P. seriatus occurs as major versus occasional pest. We found Pseudomonas spp. in all samples, with different strains/species in different samples, suggesting variant Pseudomonas could be a primary endosymbiont of P. seriatus. Characterization of the P. seriatus bacterial microbiota showed it was distinct from other well-characterized hemipteran herbivores. Whether variation in microbiota corresponds with variation in traits relevant to pest control warrants further investigation.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the field efficacy of commercial insecticides against Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) and determine the diversity of non-target species associated before and after treatment. Treatments were applied at 35 and 50 days after germination, and associated insects were sampled with yellow traps 48 hours after application of each product. Insect abundance differed significantly from the control that had 1,006 and 3,750 aphids on the first and second days of evaluation, with fewer aphids at the first sampling (35 days). The most effective products were flupyradifurone (Sivanto®), imidacloprid (Uniprid®), acephate (Unifate®), and Chenopodium ambrosioides botanical extract (Requiem®), with efficacies of 99.95% (0.5 aphids/plant), 99.05 (9.5 aphids/plant), 99.41% (6.0 aphids/plant), and 76.78% (233.5 aphids/plant) (F_n,3 = 19.78; df = 5,12; p < 0.001, r² = 0.8918), respectively. At the second sampling (50 days), efficacy of flupyradifurone was 100%, and Ch. ambrosioides plant-derived product and spinetoram (Palgus®) were opposite (F_n,3 = 43.14; df = 5,12; p < 0.001, r² = 0.9473). We collected 980 insects associated with sorghum, in five orders, 26 families, and 53 species of Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Neuroptera. Species richness increased as abundance decreased. Species richness and abundance were greatest at the first assessment. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index was between 1.2 and 1.6 for the first assessment and 1.8 and 2.4 for the second evaluation. Flupyradifurone, imidacloprid and acephate should be included in integrated management of M. sacchari, considering adequate use of the product.

Principal component analysis was used to search for relationships among communities of predators (Coccinellidae, Syrphidae, and Chrysopidae), aphids, and environmental conditions in crops of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The aphid species collected were Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), and Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner). M. sacchari was most abundant, with abrupt decrease in abundance over the years. Twelve species of Coccinellidae predators, two Chrysopidae, and 13 of Syrphidae were identified. Principal component analysis revealed a stronger relationship between M. sacchari and predators than weather. The relationship among Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville, Scymnus (Pullus) dozieri Gordon, and M. sacchari was excellent.

Aphid parasitoids on the Southern Great Plains provide important pest suppression services in summer and winter crops. The primary parasitoids Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson), Aphelinus nigritus (Howard), and Diaretiella rapae (McIntosh) use multiple aphid host species on multiple crops in agricultural landscapes and historically, L. testaceipes has been the most abundant and arguably most important. However, after the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), infested sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) on the Southern Plains, A. nigritus increased in abundance and impact on this summer crop. We hypothesized that A. nigritus also would be more abundant in fields of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and winter canola (Brassica napus L.) in the region following the sugarcane aphid. From 2016-2019, we documented aphid parasitoid abundance and percentage of parasitism in Oklahoma winter crops during late fall and early spring using a standardized sentinel aphid deployment retrieval and rearing approach. Unexpectedly, A. nigritus was relatively abundant during Fall 2016, parasitizing as many as 5.4% of sentinel aphids in winter wheat fields which was more than the typically dominant parasitoid L. testaceipes. However, percentage of parasitism by A. nigritus decreased during the study. Our results suggested that abundance of A. nigritus mirrored those of sugarcane aphids in the region, and the temporary presence of the parasitoid in winter crops reflected dynamics at a landscape level.

The Neotropical cornstalk borer, Diatraea lineolata (Walker), is a pest of economic importance in maize, Zea mays L., in Mexico. The objective was to evaluate natural parasitism by Apanteles diatraeae Muesebeck on D. lineolata larvae during four ‘Mejen’ maize-growing seasons at Tabasco, Mexico. Parasitism by the braconid A. diatraeae on D. lineolata larvae was relatively low, from 0.29 to 2.8%. Of a total of 15 parasitized larvae, 46.6% were 3^rd instar, 26.7% 4^th instar, and 26.7% 5^th-instar larvae. A. diatraeae is a gregarious endoparasitoid, with an average of 57.1 wasps emerging per parasitized larva and a sex ratio of 1:0.44 (female:male). The braconid should be studied in greater detail to know more about its interrelationship with its host during phenological stages of the crop, before physiological maturity of maize plants.

A fossil species of Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (Formicidae, Myrmicinae) was described based on an amber inclusion found in the Miocene strata at Chiapas, southwestern Mexico. It was named Pheidole pauchil sp. nov., which is the first described species of the genus in Mexican amber. This broadens our understanding of the diversity of Pheidole in the Miocene in the southernmost part of North America.

The leaf-cutting ant, Atta mexicana Smith, is a pest commonly managed by synthetic insecticides. Considering negative environmental and health impacts produced by insecticides, alternative strategies such as plant-derived insecticides are an option for controlling the ant. Effects of 20 serial dilutions of refined azadirachtin oil and three post-exposure times were assessed on A. mexicana forage workers in a laboratory. The dilutions were applied directly to ants. Azadirachtin concentration and post-exposure time significantly affected mortality of A. mexicana. The mean lethal concentration at 0 hours post-exposure was 2.26 × 10¹ mg/ liter and at 50 and 100 hours was 1.67 × 10^-6 mg/ liter and 1.65 × 10^-14mg/ liter, respectively. Findings on toxicity of azadirachtin to A. mexicana are of great importance for pest management strategies in agriculture. Insecticides based on azadirachtin oil should be considered among integrated pest management strategies recommended by the Plant Health Commission in the Americas.

The red spider mite, Tetranychus merganser Boudreaux (Acari: Tetranychidae), is an important agricultural pest in Australia, China, Thailand, the United States, and Mexico because feeding causes severe damage and defoliation of plants. The aim of the study was to evaluate effects of Equisetum arvense L. ethanolic extract on biological parameters of T. merganser in a laboratory. Different concentrations (10, 50, 100, 250, 500, and 1,000 µg/ml) of ethanolic extract were applied to T. merganser females. E. arvense extract did not kill T. merganser, but increased the number of eggs by 19.9, 22.5, and 21.2% compared with a check at 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. It also augmented the growth rate and finite rate of increase, and decreased doubling time of the red spider mite. The effects require further study because the plant extracts could have considerable implications for natural enemies and also might be suitable for mass production of red spider mites for other experiments in a laboratory.

The main objective of the study was to identify chemical compounds of extract of acetone of shell + almond (EACA) and nut of almond (EAA) of Jatrofa curcas and evaluate bioactivity against Copitarsia decolora in laboratory and greenhouse conditions. In ingestion experiments, extracts at 250, 500, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 ppm were mixed into artificial diet. Checks were artificial diet mixed with a botanical insecticide Margosom^® 0.3% EC (active ingredient [AI] 250 ppm, azadirachtin), and diet plus only water. EAA at 250 and 1,000 ppm inhibited larval weight and prolonged larval development of C. decolora. EAA at 500 ppm and EACA at 1,500 ppm caused most deformation in pupae and adults. As many as 50% of C. decolora larvae occurred with EAA at 500-. EAA was the most active extract in laboratory tests and later evaluated at 250, 500, and 1,000 ppm applied to cabbage plants infested with C. decolora larvae in a greenhouse. Two checks were cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) plants without extract (water only) and pyrethroid insecticide (Alfadex^® AI 21.29% cypermethrin) at 500 ppm. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the acetonic extract of Jatropha curcas seed identified oleic acid as the major compound. EAA at 1,000 ppm and Alfadex were most effective at protecting cabbage plants from attack by larval C. decolora.

Jatropha curcas L. hosts a wide variety of insects, but temporal variation in the composition of organisms (beta diversity) associated with crop farming has not been determined. Knowing the diversity and ecological role of its entomofauna are elements to develop management strategies for potential vulnerability of an agroecosystem. In this research, diversity, composition, and temporal turnover of insect species associated with cultivation of physic nuts were evaluated at Morelos, Mexico. During the second flowering period, 1,447 individuals in 13 orders, 106 families, 162 genera, and 190 species were collected; Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera comprised 89.9% of the individuals. Families Cicadellidae, Miridae, Chloropidae, Nitidulidae, and Chrysomelidae were most abundant. Insect alpha diversity, richness (0D), Shannon (1D), and Simpson (2D), did not show significant differences. Analysis of the composition of insect species using beta diversity (βSOR) showed a change of 0.37 ± 0.02 species. Piercing-sucking and chewing insects were the most diverse functional groups, of which at least 45 species are pests. The research should be complemented with more field observations in the Jatropha curcas crop. Results emphasized the need to consider different diversity aspects for appropriate crop management strategies.

Bdella longistriata Atyeo is a mite with restricted distribution that has been registered in the United States of America (Texas) and Mexico (Colima, State of Mexico, Guerrero, Jalisco, Morelos, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas). Were colected 130 mites in different stages of development, except larvae and eggs. Population structure collected by the Malaise trap were 85% females, 9% males, and 6% immature stages. The mites were compared with those collected in a Berlese funnel from a tropical deciduous forest in the State of Jalisco.

Aculops lycopersici (Massee) causes plant desiccation and severe damage to tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) fruit, resulting in serious economic loss. The objective of the study was to determine the incidence of damage to fruit by A. lycopersici. Three varieties of tomato (SUN 7705, CID, and V305 F1) were used. Variety V305 F1 had the greatest index of damaged fruit (1.6852a), lowest index of useful fruit, (2.1878a) and least average weight per fruit (302.97a) of the three varieties. CID was least affected. The middle stratum had the greatest index of damaged fruit (2.3070a), lowest index of useful fruit, (1.5660b), and least average weight per fruit (254.89b) of the three strata. The lower stratum was least affected.

Information is provided on Auchenorryncha entomofauna from a grape (Vitis vinifera L.) vineyard at the Municipality of Parras, Coahuila. Two families, five subfamilies, 14 genera, and 17 species were collected, and are the first data provided for this region. No species tested positive for Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al., 1987) (Xanthomonadales: Xanthomonadaceae) bacteria. However, Balclutha mexicana (Blocker, 1967) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) was positive for Candidatus Phytoplasma asteri (Lee et al. 2004) (Acholeplasmatales: Acholeplasmataceae) and Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii (Hiruki y Wang 2004) (Acholeplasmatales: Acholeplasmataceae), and this is the first report of grapevine for Mexico.

Knowledge of factors influencing abundances and distributions of species on host plants could facilitate effective, sustainable management of the non-native crapemyrtle bark scale, Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae). We characterized habitat variables associated with crapemyrtles, Lagerstroemia spp. (Myrtlaes: Lythraceae), widely planted in Texas landscapes receiving minimal cultural inputs such as insecticide, irrigation, fertilization, or pruning. Arthropod species on individual trees and landscape cover in a 32.4-m-radius area around each of 100 Lagerstroemia spp. (40 of ‘Natchez' hybrid cultivar and 60 of various other cultivars) were surveyed in Brazos County and Tarrant County during six consecutive seasons starting in spring 2018 and ending in summer 2019. Data were analyzed using principal component analysis to create a reduced set of independent variables. Principal component analysis consistently generated three principal components (PC1, PC2, and PC3) that cumulatively described at least 90% of the variance among the landscape variables. Factor weightings were similar between the two locations, with areas covered by turf and hardscape explaining the greatest amount of habitat variation in PC1 with the two factors negatively related to each other. PC2 was composed of area covered by Lagerstroemia spp., and PC3 the area covered by other tree species, and both factors had positive weighting. A similar pattern was detected for cultivar type (‘Natchez’ versus non- ‘Natchez') except area covered by Lagerstroemia spp. and the area covered by other tree species best represented by PC2. Factor weights associated with seasonal principal component analysis were similar to results from analyses by location. The seasonal-specific factor weightings remained constant, suggesting a lack of seasonal effect on habitat variables included in the study. The principal components were included in a least-squares stepwise multiple progression procedure to test for the influence of landscape composition on the scale and select associated arthropod populations. Although p < 0.05 for some variables, no models had adjusted R² > 0.10. In the minimal input landscapes, trees, turf, and hardscape were the dominant habitat variables. Landscape variables were not a strong predictor of A. lagerstroemiae populations or natural enemies, thus suggesting manipulation of the parameters would have minimal effects on abundance and distribution of the species.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is of public importance from clinical and veterinary perspectives. During the last decade, cases have increased throughout Mexico, along with other tick-borne diseases. The number of cases reported has increased in northern states of the country that border the United States of America. Studies to understand the current state of affairs with the tick vector and identification of etiological agents also have increased. From the six border states, two in the northwest and central region are of special interest because of the close proximity of the populations from both regions -- Baja California (Tijuana-San Diego and Mexicali-Calexico) and Chihuahua (Ciudad Juárez-El Paso). However, not much information is available on the current situation of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other rickettsiosis in the State of Chihuahua. Because of increased clinical cases reported, where Chihuahua was the State with the second most number of cases nationwide in 2020, the purpose of this study was to identify methods of detection and vector-collection strategies in the region.

Immature stages of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) were studied with the objective to characterize diversity and sites at the metropolitan region of Puebla, Mexico. Three weather periods (dry-cold, dry-hot, and wet) and two sampling methods (ovitraps and direct collection at larval habitats) were used. Seven species of mosquitoes were identified. Greatest richness and abundance were during the wet season with both sampling methods, but few mosquitoes were in ovitraps. Aedes epactius Dyar & Knab was dominant in the ovitraps. In larval habitats, dominant species were Ae. epactius and Culex quinquefasciatus Say. Sixty-one sites with developing mosquitoes were found and classified according to origin, location, and type. Characteristics such as insolation, organic matter, vegetation, and associated fauna of the sites were considered. Correspondence analysis determined preference patterns between species and sites. Ae. epactius, Culex restuans Theobald, and Cx. quinquefasciatus were opportunistic species, because they were found in a variety of larval habitats, whereas Culiseta particeps (Adams) and Culex stigmatosoma Dyar were generalist species. Cs. particeps was related to sites with accompanying fauna, and most individuals were collected in tires; Cx. stigmatosoma was associated with sites with vegetation in temporary puddles. Results can be important for improvement of entomological control and surveillance programs in the metropolitan region of Puebla.

From collections in central and northern Mexico, Dicarnosis ripariensis (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was registered for the first time as a parasitoid of two species of mealybugs of economic importance, Phenacoccus madeirensis and P. solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae).

We describe a new species of Vaejovis C.L. Koch from a forest of pine (Pinus Linnaeus) and oak (Quercus Linnaeus) in the State of Guerrero in Mexico. In addition, the lateral aculear serration (LAS) was examined during the life of several specimens from the species, showing gradual deterioration, ending with complete loss of the structure before the adult stage. Phylogenetic and taxonomic implications of the new findings were discussed, both for the family and for the genus.

Se estudió bajo condiciones controladas el número de insectos muertos, número de marcas por alimentación, y el número de adultos emergidos de Anthonomus eugenii en trece poblaciones de chile (Capsicum annuum) silvestres, diez criollas y dos cultivares comerciales colectadas en México, así como la relación de estos parámetros de resistencia con el largo, ancho y grosor de la pared de los frutos. Las poblaciones silvestres y criollas tuvieron significativamente un mayor número de insectos muertos, un menor número de marcas por alimentación, y un menor número de insectos emergidos comparado con los cultivares comerciales, indicando que estas poblaciones poseen genes de resistencia a este insecto. Diez poblaciones de chile silvestre y 3 criollas mostraron una resistencia alta y dos poblaciones silvestres y una criolla tuvieron una resistencia intermedia porque tuvieron significativamente un mayor número de insectos muertos, un menor número de marcas por alimentación, y un menor número de insectos emergidos de A. eugenii, en comparación con el resto de las poblaciones y los cultivares comerciales que fueron altamente susceptibles porque fueron severamente afectados por A. eugenii. Estos resultados indican que estas poblaciones tienen mecanismos de resistencia tipo antibiosis a A. eugenii. Estas poblaciones de chiles con diferentes niveles de resistencia pueden utilizarse para producir cultivares de chile resistentes a A. eugenii.

El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar y comparar la diversidad de insectos entomófagos en huertas de nogal pecanero sin tratar y tratadas con insecticidas biorracionales y convencionales en la Región Lagunera de México. Los insectos se colectaron mensualmente, de abril a septiembre en 2016 y 2017, mediante red entomológica en una huerta sin tratar (testigo), otra tratada con el insecticida spinoteram (manejo biorracional), una tercera tratada con los insecticidas metoxifenozide y benzoato de emamectina en combinación con liberaciones de Trichogramma pretiosum (manejo biorracional) y una cuarta asperjada con los insecticidas clorpirfos etil y cipermetrina (manejo convencional). Se utilizaron los estimadores no paramétricos Chao1, Chao2, ACE, ICE, y Michaelis-Menten para estimar la diversidad alfa mediante la construcción de curvas de acumulación de especies. La mayor riqueza fue en la huerta testigo con 37 especies y abundancia de 315 insectos; la riqueza en las dos huertas con manejo biorracional fue de 28 a 29 especies y abundancias de 192 a 315 insectos; mientras que en la huerta con manejo convencional se observó la menor riqueza con 22 especies y abundancia de 108 insectos entomófagos. Las huertas con manejo biorracional mostraron más especies compartidas (diversidad beta) con el testigo (46%), que la huerta con manejo convencional (37%). La diversidad gamma constó de 48 especies (colecta total). Los entomófagos con mayor abundancia fueron los parasitoides Telenomus spp. y Quadrastichus sp., así como los depredadores Chrysoperla comanche, Lispe sp. 1 y Olla v-nigrum. Estos resultados indican que el manejo biorracional de insectos plaga, mediante el uso de insecticidas de bajo impacto ambiental y selectividad alta, en combinación con liberaciones de Trichogramma, puede promover una mayor diversidad y la conservación de insectos benéficos en el agroecosistema del nogal. Considerando el reducido número de huertas estudiadas en el presente estudio, es necesario realizar estudios adicionales sobre la diversidad de insectos benéficos que tomen en cuenta las diferencias en condiciones ambientales, incidencia de insectos plaga y manejo agronómico de las huertas de nogal.

The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), is a major insect pest of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) in Mexico and United States of America. This review reports current advances for the biology of the aphid, crop damage, and sampling strategies to detect the pest. We focused on management through cultural control including resistant varieties, biological control with native parasitoids and predators and use of entomopathogenic fungi, legal control, and chemical control. Life stages of the aphid are nymph, nymphal alate, super nymph, and adult. Females have parthenogenetic reproduction and under adverse conditions, viviparous reproduction. Damage to the sorghum crop by feeding nymphs and adults causes stress to the plants and yield loss. To detect the pest, leaves should be sampled each week or yellow traps used with soapy water to monitor arrival of winged adults. Cultural practices recommended are destroying foci of infection and using established official planting dates and appropriate fertilization. Currently, the main control strategy is foliar application of insecticides. However, numerous species of predators, parasitoids, and entomopathogenic fungi affect sugarcane aphids in the USA and Mexico. The organisms could sustain control of the aphid, but few have been evaluated in the field. Studies of sorghum varieties in areas of México and the USA allowed identification of genotypes with resistance to sugarcane aphids. Considering sampling strategies, biology, and life cycle studies, search for an organism with potential for biological control of M. sacchari, and identification of sorghum genotypes with resistance to damage, it is possible to develop an integrated management strategy against sugarcane aphid. For future research, it is important to develop bioassays for monitoring resistance to insecticide, study interaction between factors that favor natural and induced control with natural enemies, and promote planting of sorghum genotypes with resistance.

We report the first record of Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner 1897) (Hemíptera: Aphididae) attacking the sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) crop in Paraguay.

Bartonella sp. and Rickettsia sp. DNA were detected in cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), collected from urban, client-owned cats (Felis catus L.) and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris L.) at Tulsa, OK, during 2017. Bartonella henselae (Regnery et al. 1992) was detected in four of six fleas (67%) from one cat, while Rickettsia felis (Bouyer et al. 2001) was detected in eight fleas from five animals.

Guineagrass, Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K.Simon & S.W.L.Jacobs, is an African grass that is invasive in Florida, Hawaii, southern Texas, and northeastern Mexico. Buakea kaeuae Moyal et al., a stem-boring African moth found only on M. maximus, was imported from Kenya and evaluated for its ability to feed and develop on Guineagrass naturalized in southern Texas. Neither larvae nor adults developed or reproduced on Texas Guineagrass.

The stalk borer Diatraea considerata Heinrich, 1931 is a major pest of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) in Mexico, causing losses of 50% of yield. During the larval stage, the species naturally is attacked by parasitoid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae). In this study, Billaea (Paratheresia) claripalpis (Wulp, 1896) was determined as a solitary endoparasitoid of D. considerata in sugarcane, with 0.83% natural parasitism. This is the first record of B. claripalpis at Nayarit. The parasitoid should be distributed and used in an augmentative strategy for biological control of the stalkborer in Mexico.

This is the first record of parasitic mite Leptus sp. (Trombidiformes, Erythraeidae) parasitizing adult males of click beetles Monocrepidius flavangulus Candeze 1859 and Glyphonyx flohriChampion 1896 (Coleoptera: Elateridae), as well as the first record of Leptus species in the municipalities of Ocampo and Tula. It also is the first record for the Coleoptera species in this study in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico.

The agave pulquero (Agave salmiana Otto) has ecological, economic, and social value in several regions of México, especially Hidalgo State. The current importance of the plant requires developing more agricultural practices for effect production of the crop. From September to October 2019 at the municipality of Alfajayucan, Hidalgo, México, unusual damage was detected on A. salmiana plants and suckers with symptoms of severe defoliation by lepidopteran larvae, later identified as Spodoptera ornitogalli (Guenée). The species damaged 23% of plants with severity as much as 100% on the agave pulquero crop. This is the first report of A. salmiana foliage damaged by S. ornithogalli, which should be considered a potential pest of the agave crop.

Farmers who grow ilama (Annona diversifolia (L.) Saff.) in small orchards and backyards have had pest problems during the past 5 years. During a tour in towns at seven municipalities, a weevil (Optatus palmaris Pascoe) was observed as the principal cause of damage to the fruits of ilama in the northern region of the State of Guerrero. Damage by the weevil ranged from 5 to 100% (total fruit damage). Fruits damaged and oviposited in by O. palmaris do not reach physiological maturity and fall to the ground. Adults of O. palmaris when feeding on the exocarp of ilama cause necrosis and loss of quality of fruit for commercialization and economic loss of income for the farmer.

Se observaron daños por alimentación en el pedúnculo, orificios en el cáliz, pudrición, y absición de frutos de pimiento morrón ocasionados por larvas de una palomilla hasta entonces desconocida del género Platynota en plantas cultivadas en invernadero en el ciclo agrícola de otoño-invierno de 2018-2019 en el Valle de Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. Este insecto es un nuevo riesgo potencial para la producción de pimientos en el Valle de Culiacán y otras zonas productoras de México.

Entre noviembre 2017 y febrero 2018 se observaron hojas de tejocote (Crataegus mexicana Moc. & Sessé ex. DC) con enrollamientos y larvas de Argyrotaenia montezumae y Templemania millistriata (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) en Chiautzingo, Puebla. Este es el primer reporte de estas especies en México afectando C. mexicana.