Barrier-Based Strategies for Controlling Monalonion velezangeli (Hemiptera: Miridae) in Avocado Orchards

Avocado (Persea americana Mill) is a crop of significant economic importance in Ecuador, facing major threats from insect pests such as Monalonion velezangeli (Hemiptera: Miridae), which can reduce production by up to 42%. This study evaluated the effectiveness of six treatments based on physical barriers and biorational products within an integrated pest management (IPM) framework in an experimental avocado orchard (cv. Fuerte) in Pichincha, Ecuador. The treatments included pyrethroid, kaolin, mineral oil, combinations of kaolin and mineral oil, fruit bagging and a water control. The Kruskal–Wallis analysis revealed significant differences among treatments (T = 23.10, df = 6, p = 0.000765). Fruit bagging and a pyrethroid emerged as the most effective strategies, with mean pest damage incidences of 10.33 and 9.17%, respectively, while the control treatment showed the highest pest damage incidence (32.83%). The combination of mineral oil and kaolin demonstrated intermediate efficacy, acting as a physical barrier that interferes with the pest’s feeding and oviposition behaviours. Although fruit bagging proved highly effective, its adoption in commercial systems is limited by cost and time requirements.