CORN LEAFHOPPER (Dalbulus maidis): PHYTOSANITARY IMPORTANCE, EPIDEMIOLOGY, AND MANAGEMENT

The corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, is one of the most important phytosanitary constraints in maize production systems across the Americas due to its role as the primary vector of the corn stunt disease complex. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the phytosanitary importance, epidemiology, and management of D. maidis, emphasizing its evolutionary specialization with maize, vector–pathogen interactions, and responses to agroecosystem structure and climate variability. The strict host association of D. maidis with Zea mays results in highly efficient transmission of phloem-limited pathogens, including Spiroplasma kunkelii, phytoplasmas, and Maize rayado fino virus, whose epidemiology is strongly influenced by vector behavior, feeding dynamics, and dispersal. Continuous maize cultivation, overlapping planting dates, and landscape connectivity create epidemiological corridors that favor year-round persistence of both the vector and associated pathogens. Although natural enemies and entomopathogenic fungi contribute to population regulation, their effectiveness is often constrained by adaptive insect behavior and intensive chemical control, which can disrupt biological regulation and accelerate resistance evolution. The evidence highlights the limitations of reactive, insecticide-based strategies and underscores the need for integrated pest management approaches grounded in ecological and epidemiological principles. Sustainable management of D. maidis requires coordinated actions at field and landscape scales, incorporating crop scheduling, biological control, and climate-informed decision-making to mitigate corn stunt epidemics and enhance the resilience of maize production systems.