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The microlepidoptera, Bedellia somnulentella(Zeller), is an important pest of sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas(L.) Lam. Damage by B. somnulentellaoccurs in the larval stage and when consuming the foliar mesophyll of I. batatasmake the leaves brown, wrinkled, and reducing the photosynthetic area and the yield. The detection and management of this pest depends on knowing its biological cycle and identifying its natural enemies. The objectives of this study were to determine the life history of B. somnulentellafeeding on I. batatasleaves and to survey parasitoids of this pest in the field. The duration and viability of B. somnulentellaegg, larva, prepupa, pupa, and adult stages were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Cephalic capsule width was measured to determine the number of B. somnulentellainstars, based on the Dyar rule and analyzed by the Akaike statistical model (AIC). The developmental period of B. somnulentellawas 32.5 ± 0. 21 d with a viability of 75, 84, 100, and 84% for the egg, larva, prepupa, and pupa stages, respectively. The identification of this pest on the plants is possible from the third instar and in the pupal and adult stages. The parasitoid Conurasp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) was identified parasitizing pupae of B. somnulentellaand could be considered a potential natural enemy for the integrated management of this pest.

The microlepidoptera Bedellia somnulentellais a pest insect of Ipomoea batatasleaves, with the first report in South America, in the city of Diamantina, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, in 2018. The mining caterpillars of B. somnulentellacause damage to the leaf mesophyll of the host plant, Ipomoea batatas, an important crop which contributes to overcoming world food insecurity with high nutritional value. The objective of this work is to register the occurrence of B. somnulentellain I. batatasin the cities of Lavras and Salinas, located, respectively, in the southern and northern regions of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The individuals of B. somnulentellawere observed in field areas of the Universidade Federal de Lavras (21° 14′ S, 44° 58′ W, at an elevation of 919 masl) in Lavras and at the Instituto Federal do Norte de Minas Gerais (15° 27′ S, 44° 22′ W, at an elevation of 474 masl) in the city of Salinas. in production sites of the northeastern region These records increase the knowledge concerning the geographic distribution of this pest in the country and indicate the importance of developing strategic studies for pest contingency plans and integrated pest management (IPM). To monitor B. somnulentellain I. batatas,it is necessary to accompany the expansion of this pest in other regions, especially in the maof Brazil, a warmer region, and the southern states, with a milder climate.