The book Natural Enemies of Insect Pests in Neotropical Agroecosystems about functional biodiversity and biological control in the South and Central Americas, organized by the professors of the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) Department of Entomology Brígida Souza and Rosangela Marucci and by the researcher from the Instituto de Investigaciones de Sanidad Vegetal (INISAV) in Cuba, Luis Vázquez, was launched in January 2020. According to the editors, despite the Neotropical region's megadiversity of species giving it a high potential for the bioprospection of biological control agents, pest management with the use of natural enemies is still incipient and knowledge about it is not well-spread, as it lacks contextualization for the reality of this part of the continent and its diversified environments. The researcher Deise Capalbo from Embrapa Environment (Jaguariúna, SP) participates in the chapter Bacillus thuringiensis, with María Elena Gutiérrez, Regina Arruda and Rodrigo Moraes. She explains that, as opposed to the indiscriminate use of pesticides and their negative impacts, environmentally safer pest control methods are much needed and have been researched and tested for years, especially those applicable in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. Within such programs, the use of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses) stands out, especially using spore-forming bacteria. "Most belong to the Bacillus genus and those that have shown most results are the species Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) – often very specific and with low or no toxicity for beneficial vertebrates and insects", clarifies the researcher. The chapter is dedicated to such bacteria, presenting information about research and production, Deise underscores. It aims at reporting the processes and the parameters for fermentation of Bt with industrial technologies, as well as other aspects of formulation, quality control, and commercialization. But topics ranging from maintenance of strain pathogenicity, variability, mutability and ease of genetic manipulation to the market for biopesticide products are addressed and referenced. In addition, the book contains a set of information related to the functionality of plant diversification with a focus on agricultural production and (conservative and augmentative) biological control; to the role of predators, parasitoids and entomopathogens in pest regulation in major crops, pastures, forests, ornamental and oleraceous plants, and weeds; and to the role of antagonist microorganisms in pest and disease control. The final section addresses examples of integration of biological control with other Integrated Pest Management strategies resulting from studies conducted in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises 42 chapters, totalling over 500 pages (access it here), with the participation of 92 researchers from 33 research institutions and universities in eight Latin-American countries. The publication can be purchased both as a printed edition and as an ebook, or in separate chapters. For more information, access the pubisher Springer Link's website. Translation: Mariana Medeiros