Co-occurrence and frequency of Leptodelphax maculigera and Dalbulus maidis in maize and weeds in the Minas Gerais state, Brazil

ABSTRACT The occurrence of African planthopper Leptodelphax maculigera (Stål 1859) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) was first reported in Brazil in the Central-West region, Goiás state, Brazil, in 2023. However, it is important to analyze its dispersion in the country, frequency of occurrence and the sites of emergence in maize crop environments. This study reports the co-occurrence of L. maculigera and Dalbulus maidis in the Minas Gerais state and their frequencies in the maize agroecosystem, including the weed community. In addition, it reports the presence of parasitized L. maculigera individuals, suggesting the adaptation of local natural enemies to this species. In relation to D. maidis, which has a high frequency in maize crops, L. maculigera showed a low frequency in the crop and a moderate frequency in the weed communities. The proportion of African planthopper, at field level, along the maize developmental stages V1 to V7 presented an average frequency 97 % smaller than that of D. maidis.