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J. Pizarro-Araya, J. Cepeda-Pizarro, J.E. Barriga, and A. Bodini. 2009. Biological vulnerability in the Elqui Valley (Coquimbo Region, Chile) to economically important arthropods. Cien. Inv. Agr. 36(2):215-228. Current climate conditions in north-central Chile (25 degrees 57’-32 degrees 13’s 71 degrees 43’-68 degrees 16’W) arc characterized by increase temperatures and decreasing rainfall. Global warming is expected to alter the hydrology and ecoclimatic characteristics of north-central basins with Multiple effects, including changes in plant and arthropod phenology and biodiversity. Among these basins, the Elqui Valley (29 degrees 50’s, 70 degrees 52’W) stands out for its large population and the economic importance of tourism and agriculture. The taxonomic composition of agriculturally and medically important arthropods was studied in three locations in the Elqui Valley by manual capture of specimens and interviews with farmers, agricultural workers, and local leaders. Out of a total of 145 species of insects and 36 species of arachnids, 36 insects and I arachnid are considered pests and are known to attack one or more host plants. four orders dominated the insect suryes: Coleoptera (31.3%,. of the total captured), Orthoptera (13.9%), Hymenoptera (9.3%), and Lepidoptera (13.4%). Sonic agriculturally important insects include Macrosiphum, Rhopalosiphum. Myzus (Aphididae), Coccus, Parthenolecanium, Saissetia (Coccidae) and Pseudococcus (Pseudococcidae). Sonic medically important species are those in the zoonotic genera Loxosceles, Latrodectus, Triatoma, and Mepraia. The study of agriculturally and medically important arthropods will improve the design of better of management plans to minimize the vulnerability of ecosystems to climate change.