Parasitism of Locally Recruited Egg Parasitoids of the Fall Armyworm in Africa

Laminou, S A and Ba, M N and Karimoune, L and Doumma, A and Muniappan, R (2020) Parasitism of Locally Recruited Egg Parasitoids of the Fall Armyworm in Africa. Insects (TSI), 11 (7). pp. 1-13. ISSN 2075-4450

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Abstract

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an insect native to the tropical and subtropical Americas that has recently spread to Africa, where it predominately attacks maize, sorghum and other plant species. Biological control is an environmentally friendly way of combatting the pest and contributes to an integrated pest management approach. In Africa, several trichogrammatid parasitoids and Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) have been found parasitizing eggs of the FAW. In Niger, the egg parasitoids encountered include Trichogrammatoidea sp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and Telenomus remus Nixon. Parasitism of the FAW eggs by the two egg parasitoids was assessed in the laboratory, followed by field testing on sentinel eggs. In the laboratory, T. remus parasitized on average 78% of FAWeggs, compared to 25% for Trichogrammatoidea sp. Telenomus remus was able to parasitize egg masses that were fully covered with scales, while Trichogrammatoidea sp. parasitized only uncovered egg masses. On-farm releases of T. remus in sorghum fields caused up to 64% of FAW egg parasitism. Parasitized eggs yielded viable progeny, which can contribute to FAW egg parasitism build-up during the cropping season. Our findings lay the groundwork for the use of T. remus in augmentative releases against FAW in Africa.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : West & Central Africa
CRP:	CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (GLDC)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Telenomus remus, Augmentative release, Biological control, Trichogrammatid, Spodoptera frugiperda, Fall armyworm, Niger, Sorghum
Subjects:	Others > Fall Armyworm Others > Pest Management Others > Entomology
Depositing User:	Mr Arun S
Date Deposited:	13 Jul 2020 09:07
Last Modified:	13 Jul 2020 09:07
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/11528
Official URL:	https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11070430
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (GLDC-CRP)
Acknowledgement:	The language editing of this manuscript by Sara Hendery is greatly appreciated.
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