Seasonal Variations of Spodoptera frugiperda Host Plant Diversity and Parasitoid Complex in Southern and Central Benin

Abstract

Fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was recorded for the first time in 2016 attacking maize fields in central and west Africa. Soon after, several other regions and countries have reported the pest in almost the entire sub-Saharan Africa. In the present study, we assumed that (i) a variety of alternative plant species host FAW, especially during maize off-season, (ii) a wide range of local parasitoids have adapted to FAW and (iii) parasitoid species composition and abundance vary across seasons. During a two-year survey (from June 2018 to January 2020), parasitoids and alternative host plants were identified from maize and vegetable production sites, along streams and lowlands, on garbage dumps and old maize fields in southern and partly in the central part of Benin during both maize growing- and off-season. A total of eleven new host plant species were reported for the first time, including Cymbopogon citratus (de Candolle) Stapf (cultivated lemon grass), Bulbostylis coleotricha (A. Richard) Clarke and Pennisetum macrourum von Trinius (wild). The survey revealed seven parasitoid species belonging to four families, namely Platygastridae, Braconidae, Ichneumonidae, and Tachinidae associated with FAW on maize and alternative host plants. The most abundant parasitoid species across seasons was the egg parasitoid Telenomus remus (Nixon) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). These findings demonstrate FAW capability to be active during the maize off-season in the selected agro-ecologies and provide baseline information for classical and augmentative biocontrol efforts.

Hymenopteran parasitoid complex and fall armyworm: a case study in eastern India

“…Chilonis , which are less hairy: the complimentary effect of these species has also been observed elsewhere 39 , 40 . Telenomus remus has been observed as a main FAW egg parasitoid in America and across Africa in both field and laboratory conditions 25 , 41 . Other researchers 2 , 42 have also observed Te.…”

“…Telenomus remus inflicted natural control of the FAW egg masses in Africa and Asia 25 , 29 , 40 , 41 and has been found very effective for augmentative biological control in Latin America 63 . It may also be used for augmentative biological control in the newly invaded geographical regions including the study area.…”

“…There are large numbers of potential FAW parasitoids in the world, and this paves the way to regulate the pest sustainably and economically in farmers’ fields 25 , 26 . Previous research in the American continents and the Caribbean resulted in the identification of more than 150 parasitoid species that had the potential to suppress FAW in the maize fields and diverse crops habitats, and thus to be a key part of IPM of FAW to minimize crop yield loss 27 , 28 .…”

Diversity of Hymenopteran Parasitoids in different Crop Ecosystems

“…Among the families collected, Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Scelionidae and Chalcididae were found predominant. Winsou et al [13] reported that, among the parasitoids collected, the most abundant parasitoid species found was the egg parasitoid, Telenomus remus on fall armyworm.…”

Control Potential of Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV) Isolated from Fall Armyworm in Nigeria (West Africa)

“…Experimental conditions were 26 ± 1 • C, 70% RH, and 12 h photophase. Sprouting maize of the variety EVDT was produced to feed FAW larvae using a routine insect mass-rearing protocol [25].…”