Maize (Zea mays L.), which is considered an important cereal everywhere, is widely cultivated in different agroecological conditions. Throughout their phenological stages, maize crops are attacked by pests and diseases, and in Ecuador these phytosanitary problems are usually counteracted with applications of pesticides. However, knowledge of beneficial entomofauna is fundamental to guide pest management programs. As part of this objective, the Coccinellidae species present in maize fields in localities (Santa Ana, Colon, and Danzarin) in Manabí province were identified. In each zone, maize plants were sampled from 2018–2019. A total of 2,654 specimens belonging to 14 taxa were collected in this study, of which Cheilomenes sexmaculata, Cycloneda sanguinea, Hippodamia convergens, Hyperaspis arida, and Psyllobora confluens were found in all the studied areas. Hyperaspis arida and Diomus apollonia are reported for the first time in Ecuador.

The pitahaya, Selenicereus undatus (Haw.) D.R. Hunt (Cactaceae) is a species whose fruit is appetizing for its appearance and flavor, which has increased its demand in the international market. Ecuador has increased its planting reaching 1108 ha. This crop could be affected by pests, such as thrips, whose effects on pitahaya are unknown. During the period February - June 2019, a field study was carried out in the province of Manabí, Ecuador, with the aim of identifying the species of thrips, estimating population levels on the plant, organs (flower bud, flowers, fruits), as well as, determine the percentage of damage and the associated predators. Thrips species and populations were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis H test (P<0.05). Thrips populations (P <0.05) were correlated with rainfall and a regression analysis was performed between the latter and the percentage of damage to fruits. The most abundant species was Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Populations ranged from 0.3 to 6.0 individuals per plant, which were not correlated with rainfall. The thrips showed a marked preference for flowers. The regression model [Y = 1.87 + 1.04 (X), R2=0.83, P <0.05] showed an increase in fruit damage as a function of thrips populations. Four taxa of predatory arthropods were observed. As far as knowledge goes, this represents the first study on species, population levels, damage from thrips and predators associated with pitahaya.

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