Pest Control Agents Research Articles

Pengaruh frekuensi ultrasonik terhadap mortalitas serangga perusak kayu Dinoderus minutus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

Dinoderus minutus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) merupakan hama utama perusak kayu dan bambu, dan menjadikannya sebagai relung ekologi. Pengendalian kumbang tersebut masih bergantung pada insektisida sintetik yang dapat memicu resistensi. Penelitian ini menjadi uji pendahuluan penggunaan frekuensi ultrasonik sebagai agen pengendalian D. minutus. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mempelajari pengaruh frekuensi ultrasonik terhadap mortalitas D. minutus. Metode yang digunakan adalah pemaparan frekuensi ultrasonik terhadap imago D. minutus selama 7 hari dan 14 hari di dalam ruangan dengan suhu udara 28 °C hingga 29 °C dan kelembaban udara 70% hingga 81%. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa perlakuan frekuensi ultrasonik menghasilkan mortalitas sebesar 80,00% dengan durasi paparan 14 hari. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa frekuensi ultrasonik dengan waktu paparan yang tepat dapat digunakan sebagai bentuk pengendalian D. minutus.

Synthesis and evaluation of avermectin–imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine hybrids as potent GABAA receptor modulators

The γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors are pentameric transmembrane protein complexes. They have attracted extensive attention from the scientific community due to their significant pharmacological potential. Here we report the first synthesis of avermectin–imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine hybrids promising as GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators (PAMs). An efficient multi-step protocol was elaborated for the installation of the 6-methyl-2-(p-tolyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine pendant to the Avermectin B1a and Ivermectin skeletons through a linker. A variety of linkers were used in order to study the effect of disturbances in the hybrid structure on the GABAA receptor affinity. In vitro experiments showed that the lead compounds exhibited high potency (IC50 = 207 and 359 nM) for binding at the benzodiazepine site of GABAA receptors. In silico studies suggest that the hybrids are able to bind at the Ivermectin binding site of the GABAA receptor. The functional properties of the highest-affinity hybrid (compound 15e) as GABAAR PAM were evaluated by patch-clamp electrophysiological recordings of GABA-mediated currents in rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons. The results obtained suggest that the potentiating effect of hybrid compound 15e is due to its interaction both with benzodiazepine- and Ivermectin-binding sites of GABAARs. Drug-induced behavioral responses in adult zebrafish for hybrids correlate with an alternative mode of action of avermectin and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine pharmacophores. The investigation of avermectin–imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine hybrid molecules with activity as GABAA receptor modulators is important for the discovery of safe and effective drugs for the treatment of neurological disorders and pest control agents.

Seven new records of bee flies (Bombyliidae, Diptera) from Saudi Arabia

BackgroundBombyliidae (bee flies) are one of the largest dipterous families in Saudi Arabia with 116 hitherto recorded species. Larvae of these flies are predators or parasitoids of different stages of other insects in the orders Orthoptera, Neuroptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera, in addition to spiders (order Araneae, class Arachnida), so they have potential use as biological control agents for pests belonging to these orders.ResultsIn the present study, the list of Saudi Arabian fauna of bee flies (family Bombyliidae) is supplemented with seven new records in five genera and four subfamilies. The newly recorded species are Parageron lutescens (Bezzi, 1925) [Usiinae], Phthiria salmayensis Efflatoun, 1945 [Phthiriinae], Heterotropus bisglaucus Bezzi, 1925, Heterotropus maculiventris Bezzi, 1925, Heterotropus xanthothorax Efflatoun, 1945 [Heterotropinae], Anthrax greatheadi El-Hawagry, 1999, and Desmatoneura brevipennis (Bezzi, 1924) [Anthracinae]. World and local distributions of recorded species, diagnoses, remarks on feeding behaviors and some colored photographs were provided.ConclusionThe present study supplements the bee fly fauna (family Bombyliidae) in Saudi Arabia with seven new records. This brings the total number of bee fly species in the country into 123 species classified in 40 genera, 12 tribes and 10 subfamilies.

Two in one: the neotropical mirid predator Macrolophus basicornis increases pest control by feeding on plants.

Plant defenses activated by European zoophytophagous predators trigger behavioral responses in arthropods, benefiting pest management. However, repellence or attraction of pests and beneficial insects seems to be species-specific. In the neotropical region, the mirid predator Macrolophus basicornis has proved to be a promising biological control agent of important tomato pests; nevertheless, the benefits of its phytophagous behavior have never been explored. Therefore, we investigated if M. basicornis phytophagy activates tomato plant defenses and the consequences for herbivores and natural enemies. Regardless of the induction period of M. basicornis on tomato plants, Tuta absoluta females showed no preference for the odors emitted by induced or control plants. However, Tuta absoluta oviposited less on plants induced by M. basicornis for 72 h than on control plants. In contrast, induced plants repelled Bemisia tabaci females, and the number of eggs laid was reduced. Although females of Trichogramma pretiosum showed no preference between mirid-induced or control plants, we observed high attraction of the parasitoid Encarsia inaron and conspecifics to plants induced by M. basicornis. While the mirid-induced plants down-regulated the expression of genes involving the salicylic acid (SA) pathway over time, the genes related to the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway were up-regulated, increasing emissions of fatty-acid derivatives and terpenes, which might have influenced the arthropods' host/prey choices. Based on both the molecular and behavioral findings, our results indicated that in addition to predation, M. basicornis benefits tomato plant resistance indirectly through its phytophagy. This study is a starting point to pave the way for a novel and sustainable pest-management strategy in the neotropical region. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Isolation and molecular characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki toxic to lepidopteran pests Spodoptera spp. and Plutella xylostella.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has been widely used as a biological control agent for lepidopteran pests. However, resistance to Bt is a major concern associated with Spodoptera spp. (Noctuidae) and Plutella xylostella (Plutellidae). For efficient control of Noctuidae and Plutellidae, novel Bt strains which have high toxicity and a broad host range are needed. To develop novel Bt strains as used for bio-insecticides, the Bt IMBL-B9 with high toxicity against Spodoptera exigua, Spodoptera frugiperda and P. xylostella was isolated and characterized. The Bt kurstaki IMBL-B9 strain produced bipyramidal and cuboidal crystals consisting of cry toxins with molecular weights of 130 and 65 kDa, respectively. This strain harbors eight crystal protein genes in total, including cry1Ea and one vegetative insecticidal protein gene. The median lethal concentration (LC50 ) values of IMBL-B9 against S. exigua and S. frugiperda were 21.8- and 19.3-fold lower than those of the Bt kusrstaki strain, and 5.6- and 4.9-fold lower than those of Bt aizawai strain, respectively. To evaluate the insecticidal activity of Cry proteins from IMBL-B9, cry gene-sourced recombinant Bt strains were constructed. These strains have insecticidal activity and synergic action against lepidopteran pests. In this study, a novel Bt kurstaki IMBL-B9 strain was isolated and this could be useful for the development of new bio-insecticide or cry gene-based recombinant products as an alternative solution against lepidopterans, including Noctuidae and Plutellidae. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Impact of starvation on paternal reproductive investment in Neoseiulus californicus.

Neoseiulus californicus is an important biological control agent of small arthropod pests, widely used in preventive releases at low prey densities. Therefore, it is important to study reproductive investment of this species, both females and males, under environmental pressure of limited prey availability. Laboratory experiments were performed to investigate N. californicus male reproductive investment after short-time fasting or long-term starvation. When fasted for 36h, males are still able to complete a single mating with no significant change in reproductive parameters of its mate. But the total mating duration became 24% longer, especially timing for the male to fill the first spermatheca of its mate increased by 35%. If daily food availability was less than 20% of demand, males were still able to mate until the end of life, but their fertility reduced after ca. the seventh mating. Mating of some males at the end of their lives are invalid, with their mates failing to oviposit. Overall, we summarized that reproductive investment demand for a single mating was low in N. californicus males, but its priority in energy allocation was high. When starved, males tried to guarantee their mating capability, but their fertility decreased gradually.

Different bees as vectors for entomovectoring with enhanced pollination and crop protection control: current practices, use cases and critical view on transport.

Honeybees, bumblebees and other insects have been used commercially for pollination for many years, and microbial biocontrol agents have also been widely used in pest control. Pollinators and formulations of microbial pest-control agents are routinely transported internationally on a large scale. A novel approach has been developed to use bees as vectors of microbial agents by inoculating the surface of the pollinators using dispensers in modified hives. This innovation extends the market for these products and results in better yields. A successful entomovector system requires selecting the vector pollinator most appropriate for the crop and location, based on various criteria, in combination with a registered microbial agent. Currently, pollinators and microbial agents are packed separately and combined at the point of use. Local sourcing of the pollinator in the system reduces the need for long-distance shipping of these live insects and may improve efficiency due to local adaptation; however, it will delay use and benefits of the system until research at each site/country catches up with the work already conducted in a few countries. In the meantime, clear guidance for innovative systems employing live insects could support the promising increase in food production.

Diversity of Braconid Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconide) of Horticultural Insect Pests from Kolhapur, Maharashtra

Braconids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are the potential biocontrol agents of insect pests attacking economically important crop plants. Braconids are exclusively parasitic and are reported mainly on lepidopterous pests. These flies parasitize egg, larval, and pupal stage of the insect pests. Horticultural crops are attacked by lepidopterous pests causing severe damage to crops and there by minimizes crop yield. The use of braconid parasitoids as pest control agents helps to reduce the pest population. The braconids are rearable in laboratories and reared parasitoids can be used in pest control programs. The correct identification, host preference and parasitic potential of the parasitoids plays important role in their utilization in pest control programs. The species reported belongs to genus Cotesia, Apanteles, Bracon, Glyptapenteles, Chilonus, Dolichogenidea, Agathis, Meteorus etc. and have been found parasitizing the insect pests of different horticultural plants. Total 35 species of braconid parasitoids were reported from the Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. The studies will help to add knowledge on number of braconid species found in study area and also explore them to use in biocontrol programs in the region.

Effects of Trichoderma harzianum Strain T22 on the Arthropod Community Associated with Tomato Plants and on the Crop Performance in an Experimental Field.

Simple SummaryThere is currently a global research interest in reducing off-farm input of chemical pesticides and fertilizers by using green alternative practices. Fungi belonging to the genus Trichoderma colonize plant roots and activate systemic plant defenses against the attack of pests and pathogens. Trichoderma spp. have positive impacts on the environment and guarantee food security, which, in turn, offer important economic benefits in agriculture. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of the inoculation of a commercial Trichoderma strain on the arthropod community, downy mildew, and the agronomic performance of tomato plants in an experimental field. Our results showed that inoculation with Trichoderma positively influenced tomato fruit yields and could reduce the abundance of specific pests under field conditions.Fungi belonging to the genus Trichoderma have received much attention in recent years due to their beneficial effects on crop health and their use as pest control agents. Trichoderma activates direct plant defenses against phytophagous arthropods and reinforces indirect plant defense through the attraction of predators. Although the plant defenses against insect herbivores were demonstrated in laboratory experiments, little attention has been paid to the use of Trichoderma spp. in open field conditions. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the inoculation of the commercial Trichoderma harzianum strain T22 on the arthropod community associated with tomato plants and on the crop performance in an experimental field located in South Italy. Our results showed that inoculation with T. harzianum could alter the arthropod community and reduce the abundance of specific pests under field conditions with respect to the sampling period. The present study also confirmed the beneficial effect of T. harzianum against plant pathogens and on tomato fruit. The complex tomato–arthropod–microorganism interactions that occurred in the field are discussed to enrich our current information on the possibilities of using Trichoderma as a green alternative agent in agriculture.

Overlooked lacewings in biological control: The brown lacewing Micromus angulatus and the green lacewing Chrysopa formosa suppress aphid populations in pepper

AbstractLacewings are important natural enemies of soft‐bodied arthropods. Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae in particular include promising biological control agents of key agricultural pests. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of larvae and adults of the brown lacewing Micromus angulatus and the green lacewing Chrysopa formosa in controlling the green peach aphid Myzus persicae under laboratory conditions. We found that the release of the first instar larvae of both species at the rate of 2 or 10 individuals per pepper plant was effective in reducing the populations of M. persicae, irrespectively of the initial pest infestation pressure, i.e., 10 or 20 aphids per plant. The brown lacewing larvae at the highest release rate managed to completely eliminate the aphids from the pepper plants within two weeks following release. Adult lacewings of both species released at a rate of one to two females per plant were also effective in drastically reducing of M. persicae populations. Our results highlight the potential of these two widespread but overlooked lacewing species for use in biological pest control.

Effect of the Ni3TeO6 phase in a Ni2Te3O8/expanded graphite composite on the electrochemical monitoring of metribuzin residue in soil and water samples

Growing food demand and climate change have led to the development of various pest control agents to increase crop yields. Although pesticides help meet the food demand, they cause harm to human health and the environment. Metribuzin (MTBZ) is one of the common herbicides used for controlling weeds. Therefore, monitoring MTBZ residues in soil and water bodies is essential for decreasing risk to the environment and human health. This paper reports a highly selective and sensitive electrochemical sensor electrode based on a Ni3TeO6-phase-integrated Ni2Te3O8/expanded graphite (referred to here as NTO-eGR) composite for the detection of MTBZ. The NTO-eGR composite was prepared by a one-step low-temperature hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron microscopy techniques. The Ni3TeO6 phase was found to be an active component in the NTO/eGR composite, which exhibited satisfactory analytical performance in MTBZ detection with a sensitivity of 1.454 µA µM−1 cm−2. Moreover, the NTO-eGR electrode exhibited high selectivity to MTBZ even in the presence of a five-fold excess of interfering species in water and soil samples. The studies on practical applicability revealed that NTO-eGR exhibits good reproducibility with a relative standard deviation of 2.67% (n = 5). Moreover, good recoveries of greater than 90% were achieved in the determination of MTBZ in soil and water samples. Hence, the NTO-eGR sensor electrode is highly suitable for the rapid on-site determination of MTBZ.

Identification of Volatile Compounds and Insecticidal Activity of Essential Oils from Origanum compactum Benth. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. against Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.)

This work was undertaken to investigate the volatile compounds and insecticidal activity of essential oils (EOs) from Origanum compactum Benth. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. against the crop pest Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.). Essential oils of Origanum compactum (EOC) and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (EOR) were extracted by use of hydrodistillation, and their volatile compounds were profiled by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The insecticidal activity of extracted EOC and EOR was evaluated against C. maculatus. GC-MS analysis revealed that carvacrol (70.88%) and 1,8-cineole (62.35%) were the major constituents of EOC and EOR, respectively. EOC exhibited a potent insecticidal activity with calculated LC50 values of 6.77 and 3.57 μL/L air, 24 and 48 h posttreatment, respectively. Comparable LC50 values were obtained for EOR recording 6.25 and 3.82 μL/L, 48 h posttreatment. The effects of fumigation by the tested EOs on fertility (egg hatching) and the emergence of adult C. maculatus were also investigated. Notably, EOC completely abolished egg fertility judged by the abrogation of emergence of adults, regardless of the tested dose. By contrast, EOR completely inhibited the fertility and the emergence of C. maculatus adults at the dose of 16 μL/10 g. The outcome of the present study highlights the utility of the EOs from O. compactum Benth. and R. officinalis L. as natural sources of effective and ecofriendly pest-control agents.

Flock house virus as a vehicle for aphid Virus-induced gene silencing and a model for aphid biocontrol approaches

Due to their high specificity and efficacy, RNA interference (RNAi)-based strategies have been used for fundamental functional genomics studies in a number of insects. However, its potential for translational applications in pest management is also of great interest. The lack of suitable RNAi triggering approaches, however, so far has largely precluded the implementation of RNAi-based approaches to target aphids. In this work, we first demonstrate that Flock House virus (FHV), an insect virus, can infect multiple aphid species, including the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (M. persicae), the corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (R. maidis), and the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (R. padi), by both microinjection and oral feeding. Using green fluorescent protein (GFP) as an indicator, we showed that the defective interfering RNA (DI-634) of FHV RNA2, which is generated autonomously during wild-type (WT) virus replication, can carry foreign sequences, and further for their functional expression. More importantly, the engineered DI-634 was incorporated into virus particles in co-infections with WT FHV. Using FHV virions containing genetically modified DI-634, the accumulation levels of the M. persicae mRNAs for Cathepsin L (CatL) and Sugar Transporter 4 (ST4), were decreased by ~ 35% and ~ 30–50%, respectively when virions were injected intrathoracically into aphids. Finally, and of more practical relevance, oral acquisition of these engineered FHV virions caused lethality of M. persicae. In summary, as a proof-of-concept, our work demonstrates that FHV can be a valuable RNAi tool for fundamental research, and suggests opportunities for using engineered insect viruses as biological agents for aphid pest control.

Mass Production of Entomopathogenic Fungi, Metarhizium robertsii and Metarhizium pinghaense, for Commercial Application Against Insect Pests.

Entomopathogenic fungi of the Metarhizium anisopliae species complex have gained importance as the biological control agents of agricultural insect pests. The increase in pest resistance to chemical insecticides, the growing concerns regarding the negative effects of insecticides on human health, and the environmental pollution from pesticides have led to a global drive to find novel sustainable strategies for crop protection and pest control. Previously, attempts to mass culture such entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) species as Beauveria bassiana have been conducted. However, only limited attempts have been conducted to mass culture Metarhizium robertsii and M. pinghaense for use against insect pests. This study aimed to mass-produce a sufficient number of resilient infective propagules of South African isolates of M. robertsii and M. pinghaense for commercial application. Three agricultural grain products, flaked oats, flaked barley, and rice, were used as the EPF solid fermentation substrates. Two inoculation methods, conidial suspensions and the liquid fungal culture of blastospores were used to inoculate the solid substrates. Inoculation using conidial suspensions was observed to be relatively less effective, as increased levels of contamination were observed on the solid substrates relative to when using the blastospore inoculation method. Flaked oats were found not to be a suitable growth substrate for both M. robertsii and M. pinghaense, as no dry conidia were harvested from the substrate. Flaked barley was found to favor the production of M. robertsii conidia over that of M. pinghaense, and an average of 1.83 g ± 1.47 g of dry M. robertsii conidia and zero grams of M. pinghaense conidia was harvested from the substrate. Rice grains were found to favor the conidial mass production of both M. pinghaense and M. robertsii isolates, with an average of 8.2 g ± 4.38 g and 6 g ± 2 g harvested from the substrate, respectively.

Melatonin as a Possible Natural Safener in Crops.

Melatonin is a well-known animal hormone with relevant and multiple cellular and hormonal roles. Its discovery in plants in 1995 has led to a great diversity of molecular and physiological studies that have been showing its multiple actions also in plants. Its roles as a biostimulator and modulator agent of responses to abiotic and biotic stresses have been widely studied. This review raises the possible use of melatonin as a natural safener in herbicide treatments. Existing studies have shown excellent co-acting qualities between both the following agents: herbicide and melatonin. The presence of melatonin reduces the damage caused by the herbicide in the crop and enhances the stress antioxidant response of plants. In this area, a similar role is suggested in the co-action between fungicides and melatonin, where a synergistic response has been demonstrated in some cases. The possible reduction in the fungicide doses is proposed as an eco-friendly advance in the use of these pesticides in certain crops. Finally, future research and applied actions of melatonin on these pest control agents are suggested.

Effects of a Popular Aquatic Pest Control Agent among Carp Aqua-culturists on Aquatic Microfauna Dynamics

Cypermethrin is gaining popularity among fish farmers community to control aquatic insect pests and ectoparasites. Effect of cypermethrin application at farmer select dose (@0.003 ppm) on aquaculture pests (Notonecta & small prawn) commonly found in tropical ponds along with fish fry was assessed. Effect of cypermethrin application on the composition and survivability dynamics of aquatic microfauna namely rotifer, copepod and cladocera for 8 days was studied in tropical pond conditions. Cypermethrin cause significantly higher mortality to notonecta and prawn compared to fish fry within 24 h of exposure (P<0.05).

Transcriptomics Reveal Several Novel Viruses from Canegrubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Central Queensland, Australia.

Canegrubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are major pests of sugarcane crops in Australia, but despite long-term and intensive research, no commercially viable biological control agents have been identified. We used the RNA-Seq approach to explore the viriomes of three different species of canegrubs from central Queensland, Australia to identify potential candidates for biological control. We identified six novel RNA viruses, characterized their genomes, and inferred their evolutionary relationships with other closely related viruses. These novel viruses showed similarity to other known members from picornaviruses, benyviruses, sobemoviruses, totiviruses, and reoviruses. The abundance of viral reads varied in these libraries; for example, Dermolepida albohirtum picorna-like virus (9696 nt) was built from 83,894 assembled reads while only 1350 reads mapped to Lepidiota negatoria beny-like virus (6371 nt). Future studies are essential to determine their natural incidence in different life stages of the host, biodiversity, geographical distributions, and potential as biological control agents for these important pests of sugarcane.

A pictorial key for identification of the hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) of the Madeira Archipelago.

Syrphid flies are important ecological indicators and provide crucial ecosystem services, being important pollinators and biological control agents of insect pests. These charismatic insects are conspicuous and, due to their size and colourful patterns, are relatively easy to identify. However, the lack of user-friendly literature (e.g. photographic guides) for most areas may hamper its wider selection as a study group in biodiversity and ecological studies. The syrphid fauna of Madeira Archipelago comprises 26 species, including four endemics (Eumerushispidus Smit, Aguiar & Wakeham-Dawson, 2004; Melanostomawollastoni Wakeham-Dawson, Aguiar, Smit, McCullough & Wyatt, 2004; Myathropausta, Wollaston, 1858 and Xanthandrusbabyssa, Walker, 1849), but, despite the current good taxonomic knowledge on this group, information on species distribution, ecology and conservation is still lacking. Here, we provide a pictorial key to the adult hoverflies of Madeira Archipelago highlighting diagnostic characteristics and present photographs of both males and females (in dorsal and lateral views) in colour plates. The key and plates will help researchers to differentiate these species, thus encouraging the use of this insect group in future bioindication studies. In addition, this study also aims to engage a broader audience of non-experts in improving the knowledge on the distribution and ecology of Madeira syrphids. We provide a checklist for the hoverflies of Madeira Archipelago and a pictorial key to help on species identification.

RNA Interference-Based Pesticides and Antiviral Agents: Microbial Overproduction Systems for Double-Stranded RNA for Applications in Agriculture and Aquaculture

RNA interference (RNAi)-based pesticides are pest control agents that use RNAi mechanisms as the basis of their action. They are regarded as environmentally friendly and are a promising alternative to conventional chemical pesticides. The effective substance in RNAi-based pesticides is double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) designed to match the nucleotide sequence of a target essential gene of the pest of concern. When taken up by the pest, this exerts an RNAi effect and inhibits some vital biochemical/biological process in the pest. dsRNA products are also expected to be applied for the control of viral diseases in aquaculture by RNAi, especially in shrimp farming. A critical issue in the practical application of RNAi agents is that production of the dsRNA must be low-cost. Here, we review recent methods for microbial production of dsRNAs using representative microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas syringae, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and others) as host strains. The characteristics of each dsRNA production system are discussed.

Novel viral RNA genomes of the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus.

The vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret, 1875), is the most important insect pest in growing areas of the grapevine Vitis vinifera L. in several countries, including Mexico. In Mexico, Baja California (B.C.) is the region with the highest production of V. vinifera L. grapes for industrial purposes. Recently, the diversity of viruses infecting insects only (insect-specific viruses) has been broadly explored to elucidate further ecological viral-host interactions in many insect species, which in some cases has resulted in the application of virus-based biological control agents for insect pests. However, a survey of the Pl. ficus virome has not been done yet. In the present study, we pooled Pl. ficus individuals collected through different vineyards of Ensenada, B.C., Mexico and analysed them by meta-transcriptomics. Novel nearly complete genomes of five RNA viruses were retrieved. These viruses were related to the Iflaviridae and Reoviridae families, and to the Picornavirales and Tolivirales orders. A new isolate belonging to the Dicistroviridae family was also found. Phylogenetic analyses showed that these putative viral genomes group with viruses having hemipteran (including a mealybug species) or other insect hosts, or with viruses associated with insects. Our results suggest that the identified novel RNA viruses could be insect-specific viruses of Pl. ficus. This work is the first insight into the Pl. ficus virome; it guarantees further studies aimed to characterize those viruses with potential for application in biological control of this economically important insect.