First report of Aethalion reticulatum (Linnaeus, 1767) (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae) infesting plants of Coffea arabica (Linnaeus, 1753) (Rubiaceae)

Coffee is of great socio-economic importance, and in this scenario Brazil stands out as the largest producer and exporter of coffee beans. However, the coffee tree is susceptible to the attack of several insect pestshe main ones being the berry borer and leaf miner. However, other insects may be present in the crop, and their identification is important for the elaboration of mitigation measures. To date, the presence of the leafhopper Aethalion reticulatum (Linnaeus, 1767) (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae) in Coffea arabica (Linnaeus, 1753) (Rubiaceae) plants has not been reported in the literature. Thus, the present study aimed to describe the occurrence of A. reticulatum in arabica coffee plants on the Campus of the Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Key words: Fruit leafhopper; Insect pest; Coffee crop; Infestation.