The leafroller Proeulia auraria (Clarke) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a native, polyphagous, and growing pest of several fruit crops in Chile; it also has quarantine importance to several markets, thus tools for management are needed. Using synthetic pheromone compounds, we conducted field trials to optimize the blend for monitoring, and to determine the activity period of rubber septa aged under field conditions. We concluded that septa loaded with 200 μg of E11-14:OAc + 60 μg E11-14:OH allowed for efficient trap captures for up to 10 weeks. Using this blend, we studied the phenology of adult males in vineyards, apple, and blueberry orchards, identifying two long flight cycles per season, lasting from September to May and suggesting 2–3 generations during the season. No or low adult activity was observed during January and between late May and late August. Furthermore, mating disruption (MD) field trials showed that application of 250 pheromone point sources using the dispenser wax matrix SPLAT (Specialized Pheromone and Lure Application Technology, 10.5% pheromone) with a total of 78 g/ha of the blend described above resulted in trap shutdown immediately after application, and mating disruption >99% in all orchards for at least 5 months. We concluded that MD is feasible for P. auraria, needing now the development of a commercial product and the strategy (and protocols) necessary to control this pest in conventional and organic orchards in Chile. As far as we know, this is the first report on MD development against a South American tortricid pest.

Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is an important economic pest and has a worldwide distribution. In Chile, this species has been reported over a large geographical area and is associated with tomato production. Although several plants have been described as hosts of the whitefly, this insect’s behavior against multiple hosts is still unclear. Therefore, the objective of our work was to identify the host plants, behaviors, preferences, performance, and choices of T. vaporariorum. First, over one year, we monitored nine production sites where tomato is the principal crop and identified 50 host plants belonging to 27 families, mostly Asteraceae and Solanaceae. Among the plants, those that were most infested by greenhouse whiteflies comprised Solanum lycopersicum, Phaseolus vulgaris, Cucurbita maxima, Malva sylvestris, Bidens aurea, and Sonchus oleraceus. In laboratory tests, greenhouse whiteflies showed a greater preference for S. oleraceus, S. lycopersicum, and P. vulgaris. The highest population growth rate was observed for B. aurea, followed by S. lycopersicum and S. oleraceus. Significant differences were found in the pairwise choice test, showing a greater preference for C. maxima and S. lycopersicum. Although this pest tends to choose tomatoes, this crop was not always the first choice in terms of preference and performance. This information is necessary for the development of integrated whitefly management programs that include adjacent habitats.

Background: Since 2008, the kiwifruit industry has been significantly impacted by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), the agent responsible for bacterial canker in kiwifruit. Existing treatments, such as copper-based compounds and antibiotics, have faced challenges related to resistance and soil contamination. Phage therapy is a promising and safe alternative for controlling this pathogen. This study aimed to evaluate the use of a mixture of four isolated and characterized bacteriophages as potential biocontrol agents against Psa. Methods: Trials were conducted at two locations in Chile, where Psa presence was reported during the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons, with a focus on the spring stages. Different formulations were tested each season to evaluate possible improvements in effectiveness. Pseudomonas spp. isolates obtained from epiphyte populations were characterized using morphological, biochemical (LOPAT), and molecular techniques. Results: Field trials demonstrated that the phage mixture effectively reduced the damage associated with Psa on kiwi leaves, resulting in a decrease in the Pseudomonas spp. bacterial load (42.9% for Peumo and 25% for Linares) at both locations during the first season trials. This decrease is associated with a reduction in the incidence and severity of the disease in kiwi plants in the Peumo orchard. In both seasons, bacteriophages reduce Psa symptoms in treated kiwi plants compared to untreated controls, at least at one location and evaluation. In both orchards during the first season, bacteriophages also outperformed copper- and antibiotic-based treatments used by farmers. Bacteriophage therapy is eco-friendly and safe for both applicators and consumers.

Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive pest that causes significant damage to Brassica crops worldwide. This study evaluated behavioral and toxicological responses of adults B. hilaris to plant volatiles and essential oils (EOs). Y-tube olfactometer assays revealed sex-specific responses to plant-emitted volatiles: females were repelled by Coriandrum sativum and Petroselinum crispum, while males responded to Pelargonium hortorum. Essential oils exhibited non-linear concentration-dependent effects, with C. sativum EO inducing repellency at 40–80 µg/µL and P. hortorum at 160–320 µg/µL. In contrast, repellency index was not influenced by sex, but strongly driven by concentration, with C. sativum and P. hortorum most effective, and P. crispum showing weaker yet consistent responses. Toxicity assays demonstrated greater male susceptibility, with lower LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values for C. sativum and P. hortorum. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of EOs matrix identified linalool, β-citronellol, trans-geraniol, and myristicin as the predominant constituents. Importantly, repellency occurred at lower concentrations than mortality thresholds, indicating distinct behavioral and physiological mechanisms. These findings support integrating C. sativum and P. hortorum essential oils into sustainable pest management strategies for B. hilaris.