Pests pressure sugarcane productivity **Translation:** Pests pressure sugarcane productivity

Sugarcane is one of the foundations of Brazil's agricultural economy, playing a relevant role in the production of sugar, ethanol, and renewable energy. For the 2025/2026 harvest, national production is estimated at 663.4 million tons, according to the National Supply Company. Despite this performance, the crop remains exposed to phytosanitary challenges that compromise productivity and profitability, especially the attack of insect pests. Among the main ones are the sugarcane weevil and the leafhopper, capable of causing significant losses. The weevil attacks the root system and the rhizome, reducing the vigor of the plants and the sprouting of the stool, which limits the number of cuts over the cycle. Its control is complicated by the long cycle and the protection offered by the straw, in addition to the dissemination by seedlings and machinery. Data from Embrapa indicate losses of up to 30 tons per hectare per year, equivalent to almost 40% of an average productivity. In this ...