Spatial behaviour of Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret) on ‘Hass’ avocado in Estado de Mexico

Introduction: Avocado exports have been affected by the presence of Hemiberlesia lataniae, the main damage is aesthetic and undermines fruit quality. Objective: To determine the spatial distribution of Hemiberlesia lataniae in a ‘Hass’ avocado crop in Estado de Mexico. Methodology: The experiment was developed in three avocado growing areas (Coatepec Harinas, Donato Guerra and Ixtapan del Oro). Sampling was carried out using the quadrat methodology, a total of 400 trees were sampled per zone from August 2019 to July 2020. The trees were divided into three strata (high, medium and low), and a terminal branch from each cardinal point was marked. Each tree was marked and georeferenced with a differential GPS. Results: A total of 24 samples per zone were generated, and all cases had an aggregated spatial behavior of Hemiberlesia lataniae. Semivariograms were fitted to spherical, exponential, and Gaussian models. Limitation of the study: Geostatistics is the only method that provides the exact location of the pest and the sample in density maps. Originality: The present study proposes to implement integrated management strategies to reduce ecological damage, due to indiscriminate use of insecticides, and presence of residues in fruits. Conclusions: The following study allowed us to know the spatial distribution of Hemiberlesia lataniae by means of density maps in three ‘Hass’ avocado producing areas in Estado de Mexico, where an aggregated spatial distribution was observed.