Biological control of Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith and Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons Walker using entomopathogenic fungi

Abstract

ctive: Evaluate the biological effectiveness of native entomopathogenic fungi to control Spodoptera frugiperda and Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons, as well as the natural incidence of parasitoids in S. frugiperda.
 Design/Methodology/Approach: Six strains of Metarhizium anisopliae (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and A6) and three strains of Isaria fumosorosea (B4, B5, and B6) were collected. S. frugiperda larvae were inoculated with all the isolated strains of Metarhizium and Isaria; while, the nymphs of S. p. piceifrons were inoculated with strains A1, A5, A6, B4, and B5. Mortality (%) and natural incidence of parasitoids in S. frugiperda larvae were evaluated. Mortality was analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and a comparison of means (Duncan; ɑ = 0.05) in the INFOSTAT 2021 software. Parasitism was reported with descriptive statistics (%).
 Results: Strains A1, A6, and B6 caused the highest mortality (86.6-90.0 %) in S. frugiperda larvae. Strains A1, A5, A6, and B6 caused the highest mortality in nymphs of S. p. piceifrons (90-100 %). Two families of parasitoids were recorded: Tachinidae (Diptera; 7.8 %) and Braconidae (Hymenoptera). Wasps of the genus Meteorus sp. account for 92.2 % of the latter family.
 Study Limitations/Implications: The biological effectiveness evaluations of the entomopathogenic fungi were carried out under laboratory conditions. The results must still be validated on the field.
 Findings/Conclusions: Strains A1, A5, and A6 showed a good control of the S. p. piceifrons nymphs. Strain B6 is a biological control alternative for S. p. piceifrons and S. frugiperda, since it recorded the highest mortality for both species.