AN OUTBREAK OF INSECT SCALES AND DISEASES WAS OBSERVED IN TROPICAL FRUIT ORCHARDS AFTER THE ATMOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES CAUSED BY HURRICANE MARIA IN PUERTO RICO. SYMPTOMS SUCH AS DEAD BRANCHES AND MANGO TREES DOWNED AS WELL AS OTHER FRUIT BEARING TREES WERE OBSERVED. THE GOAL OF THIS STUDY IS TO INVESTIGATE INSECT SCALES AND PATHOGENIC FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH THESE SYMPTOMS. THE PROGRAM PRIORITIES EMPHASIZED IN OUR PROPOSAL ARE PLANT HEALTH AND PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRODUCTS. THIS PROPOSAL SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM CRITERIA RELATED TO THE FOLLOWING: APPLICATION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE OR NEW APPROACHES TO UNSOLVED CHALLENGES THAT RESULT IN DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS AND RAPID RESPONSE TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND UNANTICIPATED CHANGES AFFECTING AGRICULTURE. OUR OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) IDENTIFY SPECIES OF INSECT SCALES AND FUNGAL PATHOGENS, 2) DETERMINE THEIR ABUNDANCE AND THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THESE DISEASES AND PESTS, 3) DETERMINE THEIR POPULATION DYNAMICS ACCORDING TO PLANT PHENOLOGICAL STAGE, AND 4) STUDY THE INTERACTION BETWEEN INSECT SCALES AND FUNGAL PATHOGENS.