Insects and mites associated with pepper. How much diversity can be observed in a crop?

Abstract

The pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a vegetable with the highest consumption worldwide, since its fruits are rich in fiber, vitamins A and C, antioxidants and can be marketed fresh or processed. Currently there is a decrease in production, due to the appearance of phytosanitary problems that occur throughout the phenological cycle. The fundamental basis of an integrated pest management program is the knowledge of the arthropods associated with a crop. The objective of this work was the study of arthropod pests and natural enemies present in a pepper plot of 1000 m2. During August 2021 - January 2022, weekly leaf sampling was carried out to identify the taxa present. A total of 1485 arthropod specimens were observed during the study, represented by 61.5% natural enemies and 38% phytophagous. The identification of pest arthropods represents the first phase to consecutively evaluate the magnitude of their damage in combination with the action of natural enemies to define their importance as biological regulation agents.