Natural parasitism of Braconidae and Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) on Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

Parasitoids Hymenoptera of the families Braconidae and Ichneumonidae were collected, also was determinate their natural parasitism on fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Durango valley region, Mexico. The Braconids species found were: Chelonus insularis (= texanus), Ch. cautus and two species of Meteorus sp., and of Ichneumonidae: Pristomerus spinator and Campoletis sonorensis. In the spring-summer cycle 2012, were collected 1,600 larvae at four locations within the region with altitude range of 1,876-1,973 masl; from these, 316 larvae showed parasitism, which represents a level of natural parasitism on fall armyworm larvae of 19.75%. C. sonorensis was the most abundant specie in J. Gpe. Aguilera (44.25%) to 1,952 masl, while the less abundant was Meteorus sp.1 (2.25%) in Lerdo de Tejada to 1,883 masl. Ch. insularis was present in four localities around area of 5, 543.1 km2, with a larval parasitism levels of 6.75 to 19%. The other five species of parasitoids are considered new reports in the studied area. This work is a contribution to the knowledge of the family Braconidae and Ichneumonidae parasitoids, and their parasitism level on the armyworm in Durango, Mexico.

Biology, Population Fluctuation, and Foliar Consumption Rate of Durrantia arcanella Busk, 1912 (Lepidoptera: Depressariidae), a Defoliator of Oil Palm in the Colombian Caribbean

“…Biological control provided by the natural enemies of D. arcanella presented a strong positive correlation with the population of the pest insect and a negative correlation with the temperature; this agrees with studies that report that these biological control agents respond quickly to changes in the population dynamics of their host and to climatic variations [30,33]. Additionally, parasitoid insects from the Braconidae, Chalcididae, and Ichneumonidae families have been reported as important biological controllers not only in the Depressariidae family but also in other Lepidoptera [22,[34][35][36][37][38].…”

Prospects for classical biological control ofSpodoptera frugiperda(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in invaded areas using parasitoids from the Americas

“…(González-Maldonado et al 2014), with an average of 23% parasitism. Also at high elevations in Durango, García-Gutiérrez et al (2013) found parasitism rates up to 44.5% by C. sonorensis . Campoletis spp.…”

“…However, the number, identity, and respective distribution of Campoletis species attacking S. frugiperda remain unclear and, therefore it is not possible to provide definite assessments of their climatic suitability. They are often abundant at high elevations, e.g., in Mexico ( García-Gutiérrez et al 2013 , González-Maldonado et al 2014 ). Cam poleti s grioti is the main parasitoid of S. frugiperda in subtropical Argentina, where pest populations are transient and, thus, may be suitable for climatically similar regions in other continents.…”

Genetic Delimitation of Fall Armyworm Parasitoids Isolated in Maize in Durango, Mexico

“…From ten years to date in Durango, Mexico, studies have been carried out that have made it possible to know the taxonomic diversity of parasitoids of FAW of the families: Ichneumonidae (Pristomerus spinator Fabricius, Campoletis sonorensis Cameron) [25], Encyrtidae (Euplectrus plathypenae Howard), Tachinidae (Lespesia aletiae Riley, L. archippivora Riley, Winthemia deilephilae Osten Sacken, y Archytas marmoratus Townsend) [26], Trichogrammatidae (Trichogramma pretiosum Riley y Trichogramma exiguum Pinto y Platner) and Scelionidae (Telenomus remus Nixon) [27], and of the family Braconidae subfamily Homolobinae (Homolobus truncator Say) [28], from this same family Ch. insularis, Ch.…”