First record of Walterianella venustula (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) as a defoliatior of sesame in Oaxaca, Mexico
Keywords:
Defoliation, Diabrotica, flea beetle, Sesamum indicumAbstract
The flea beetle Walterianella venustula (Schaufuss) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is reported for the first time defoliating sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). The record was made in October 2025 in a plot of San Joaquín variety, on the Oaxaca Coast, Mexico, where damage was observed in ~0.6 ha, with 97 % of the plants affected and an average defoliation of 92 %. The damage is similar to that caused by Diabrotica spp., therefore, the defoliation pattern, population density and percentage of affected plants are described.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Rafael Ariza-Flores, María Magdalena Ordoñez-Reséndiz, Luis A. Gálvez-Marroquín, Jesús A. Cruz-López
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