Integrative taxonomy and phylogeography of Telenomus remus (Scelionidae), with the first record of natural parasitism of Spodoptera spp. in Brazil

Abstract

The egg parasitoid Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) has been investigated for classical and applied biological control of noctuid pests, especially Spodoptera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) species. Although T. remus was introduced into Brazil over three decades ago for classical biological control of S. frugiperda, this wasp has not been recorded as established in corn or soybean crops. We used an integrative approach to identify T. remus, combining a taxonomic key based on the male genitalia with DNA barcoding, using a cytochrome c oxidase subunit I mitochondrial gene fragment. This is the first report of natural parasitism of T. remus on S. frugiperda and S. cosmioides eggs at two locations in Brazil. We also confirmed that the T. remus lineage in Brazil derives from a strain in Venezuela (originally from Papua New Guinea and introduced into the Americas, Africa, and Asia). The occurrence of T. remus parasitizing S. frugiperda and S. cosmioides eggs in field conditions, not associated with inundative releases, suggests that the species has managed to establish itself in the field in Brazil. This opens possibilities for future biological control programs, since T. remus shows good potential for mass rearing and egg parasitism of important agricultural pests such as Spodoptera species.

Invasiveness, biology, ecology, and management of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

“…Egg parasitioids are commonly mentioned in terms of augmentative biological control strategies (see section 5.6.3) but data on natural occurrences are scarce. Telenomus remus Nixon (Scelionidae), introduced from Asia, is only occasionally found naturally in the Americas (Hay-Roe et al 2015;Varella et al 2015;Wengrat et al 2021). Trichogramma pretiosum Riley and Tr.…”

A Molecular Marker to Identify Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) DNA in Predators’ Gut Content

“…Biological control agents may also be effective for S. frugiperda population suppression. Parasitoids and predators, such as Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), Trichogramma species (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), Tachinidae (Diptera), Podisus nigrispinus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), Doru luteipes (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), and Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinelidae), are described as promising biological control agents of S. frugiperda [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. In maize areas, the most common predators are earwigs, ladybugs, ground beetles, and lacewings, which feed on different important agriculture pests [ 17 , 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

Potencial de controle de >i<Spodoptera frugiperda>/i< (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) em milho por >i<Trichogramma pretiosum>/i< Riley, 1879 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) e isolinhagem de >i<Telenomus remus>/i< Nixon, 1937 (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), isolados ou associados, em laboratório e semi-campo

“…Telenomus remus é um inseto de origem asiática que foi introduzido nas Américas e no Caribe como agente de controle biológico clássico para o controle de lagartas do complexo Spodoptera (Cave 2000). No Brasil T. remus foi introduzido em três ocasiões, a primeira em 1983, depois novamente em 1996 e uma última vez em 2011, porém, apenas recentemente T. remus foi descrito ocorrendo naturalmente em posturas de S. frugiperda no país, indicando que se encontra estabelecido no Brasil (Wengrat et al 2021).…”

“…Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a lagarta-do-cartucho-do-milho, como é comumente conhecida, é uma praga polífaga, sendo referida em mais de 350 hospedeiros (Montezano et al 2018), entre eles culturas de grande importância econômica como milho, algodoeiro, soja e arroz (Nagoshi 2009, Bueno et al 2011, Wengrat et al 2021. Quanto à sua distribuição, S. frugiperda é uma praga originária de regiões tropicais e subtropicais do continente americano, porém, recentemente foi relatada na Ásia, África e Oceania (Goergen et al 2016, Ganiger et al 2018, Kalleshwaraswamy et al 2018, EPPO 2020.…”

“…) (Ashley 1986, Molina-Ochoa et al 2006), e parasitoides do gênero Trichogramma ( Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae ) (Beserra and Parra 2004, Wengrat et al 2021.…”