Abstract
The endoparasitoid wasp, Tetrastichus howardi Olliff, is used for insect pest control in agricultural systems. The toxic effects of proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) were evaluated over two generations of T. howardi parasitizing Bt-resistant Spodoptera frugiperda. Lower survivorship was detected in both generations of parasitoid wasps of both sexes that developed on S. frugiperda larvae resistant to Bt. Deleterious effects including disrupted host-searching behavior and lower performance were found in T. howardi individuals that emerged from Bt-resistant S. frugiperda. Also, Bt caused repellency and reduced immature parasitoid wasp production in T. howardi. The findings revealed that Bt causes side-effects on T. howardi which has implications for assessing the risks of Bt insecticides in biological control programs for sustainable crop production.
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