First report of feeding injury of Proba fraudulenta Stal (Hemiptera: Miridae) to Cynara cardunculus (L.) Fiori (Asterales: Asteraceae) in Brazil

An outbreak of Proba fraudulenta Sta center dot l (Hemiptera: Miridae) causing feeding injury to leaves and inflorescences, and leading to economic damage of artichoke, Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (L.) Fiori (Asterales: Asteraceae), was observed for the first time in plantations located in the municipalities of Piedade (23 degrees 43 ' S, 47 degrees 25 ' W) and Ibiuna (23 degrees 39 ' 29.88 '' S, 47 degrees 12 ' 40.68 '' W), Sa similar to o Paulo state, Brazil. This is the first formal record of the mirid bug P. fraudulenta as an insect pest of artichoke. This scientific note aims to describe the feeding injury and economic importance of P. fraudulenta for artichoke production. Nymphs and adults of P. fraudulenta were manually collected from inflorescences of artichoke plants at "Sitio Osako", a property located in the municipality of Piedade. The second author, a taxonomist specialist in Miridae, identified the species based on morphological diagnostic characteristics. Feeding by P. fraudulenta on artichoke was observed to cause yellowing and drying of leaves, reduction of plant vigor and inflorescence size and quality, and plant death, which directly affects yield. This report is a relevant finding because the state of Sa similar to o Paulo is the biggest artichoke-producing region in Brazil, and this insect could pose a threat to artichoke production if it were to invade other producing regions including Europe and the United States.