México is the leading blackberry (Rubus sp.; Rosaceae) producer in the world; the states of Michoacán and Jalisco are the most important because of their production area. In 2017, production exceeded 234,820 tons harvested over more than 12,000 ha; more than 96% of this production is exported (SIAP 2017). Thrips associated with flowers are among the most important blackberry pests, resulting in losses that can exceed 70%. This damage is associated with poor fruit set, most likely because of the damage they cause to the flowers, especially to the styles, ovaries, and developing fruits (Rhodes & Liburd 2017), which results in unmarketable fruits.

Cut rose growers in the municipalities of Villa Guerrero, Tanancingo, Coatepec Harinas, and Ixtapan de la Sal, in the state of Mexico, Mexico, have reported low effectiveness of abamectin in the control of Tetranychus urticae, possibly due to development of resistance. The objective of this study was to determine the response of 4 field populations and 1 population susceptible to this acaricide. The values of the lethal concentration (LC) at 50% of mortality fluctuated between 0.0012 to 25.37 mg per L, while the relative response (RR) at 50% of mortality of the field populations varied from 2,226 to 21,141. The values of LC at 95% mortality varied from 0.008 to 81,218 mg per L, while the RR at 95% varied from 23,185 to 10,152,250. These results reflect the levels of resistance to abamectin, and therefore, implementation of other alternatives in the management of T. urticae are recommended.

Resumen. El pulgón amarillo, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), se detectó en México en 2013 y se ha dispersado a diversas regiones productoras de sorgo, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, causando daños del 30 al 100%. Se evaluaron en campo insecticidas de diferente modo de acción en dos experimentos que mantuvieron la densidad por abajo del umbral económico establecido de 50 pulgones por hoja. A los 28 días después de la aplicación, imidacloprid sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, pymetrozine, spirotetramat, y afidopyropen presentaron las menores densidades de pulgón amarillo. Esta información es relevante, ya que conocer la efectividad de insecticidas con diferente modo de acción permite utilizar los más efectivos y que puedan integrarse con otras medidas que se implementen en el manejo de M. sacchari. The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), was detected in Mexico during 2013 and has dispersed to various sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)-producing regions, causing damage from 30 to 100%. Insecticides with different modes of action were evaluated in two experiments in the field, maintaining abundance below the established economic threshold of 50 aphids per leaf. Fewest sugarcane aphids were found 28 days after treatment with imidacloprid, sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, pymetrozine, spirotetramat, and afidopyropen. This information is relevant, because knowing the effectiveness of insecticides with different modes of action allows use of the most effective controls that can be integrated with other tools to manage M. sacchari.

This study assessed several bioecological aspects of the black fig fly, Silba adipata McAlpine (Diptera: Lonchaeidae), the main pest of fig (Ficus carica L.). Figs were collected from eight sites in the Mexican states of Michoacán (Plan de Ayala, Los Tejones, Antúnez, Tangancícuaro, Indaparapeo, El Carrizal, and Charapendo) and Morelos (Telixtac). No infestation was recorded in figs collected in Charapendo, but, in the remaining sites, it was variable (2–33%). Figs from Plan de Ayala and El Carrizal were longer and contained more larvae than those from Telixtac and Los Tejones. Some figs (≤12) collected in Telixtac and Los Tejones contained few pupae or adults. The survival of larval and pupal stages (≤86%) and the proportion of females (40–53%) were determined at the sites where the infestation of figs was >6% (Telixtac, El Carrizal, Plan de Ayala, and Los Tejones). In the second part of this study, the development of individuals collected in Los Tejones was analyzed under constant conditions. The estimated larval duration time was between 13 and 15 d, whereas pupae lasted 11 d. The survival rate and longevity of females and males were very similar. Our results could help design a program for integrated pest management against S. adipata.

In the spring-summer agricultural cycle of 2016, the hybrids P4082W, H565, and DK357 were evaluated with chemical and chemical + biological fertilization by means of a factorial experiment arranged in a split-plot design. In the treatments with biofertilizer the seed was inoculated with Glomus intraradices + Azospirillum brasilense; in chemical fertilization 120N-80P-80K was applied. The response variables measured were: height, diameter of the neck and number of leaves of the plant, number and weight of ears with and without bracts, weight of bracts, length and diameter of the ear, number of rows ear-1, grain weight of 5 ears of cobs, length, diameter and weight of the cobs, grain yield, fodder and dried grinding. To determine the profitability of the systems, the total cost (TC), total income (IT), and net income (IN) were calculated, and finally the gain by invested MXN peso (GIP). The statistical analysis included analysis of variance and test of comparisons of means by the Tukey method. It was found that the hybrid DK357 recorded the highest height, number of leaves, grain weight, length of ear and cob, yield of grain and forage, both “zacateado” and dried milled. The P4082W genotype obtained the highest weight of ear with and without bracts. The chemical fertilization favored the yield of forage zacateado, and in combination with the biological treatment, increased the yield of grain. The DK357 and P4082W hybrids grown with chemical and biological fertilization turned out to be profitable in the systems for the production of grain alone, forage grass and grain, and ground dried fodder.

The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), is a major pest in diverse sorghum-growing regions, affecting yields if no effective control measures are implemented. The objective of this study was to evaluate the field efficacy of commercial formulations of biorational insecticides against this pest. All the evaluated biorational insecticides exerted acceptable biological efficacy for at least 7 days after application. The insecticides based on fatty acid potassium salts (Ultralux^® S and Impide^®) maintained aphid density below the established threshold of 50 aphids per leaf up to 14 days after application. The results obtained suggest that biorational insecticides can be included in the integrated management of M. sacchari.