Abstract
Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) is the main maize pest in America and was recently detected as an invasive pest in some countries in Asia and Africa. Among its natural enemies presented in Mexico, Trichogramma pretiosum Riley is the only egg parasitoid used in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs regardless of its effectiveness. A search for natural enemies of S. frugiperda was then carried out to determine whether this parasitoid has been established, and to detect native egg parasitoids or predators associated with this pest. The sentinel technique (egg masses) was used, and then placed in maize and sorghum fields in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman and Platner, an egg parasitoid, and Chelonus insularis Cresson egg-larva parasitoid were recovered from field surveys. Among the natural enemies that preyed on eggs of S. frugiperda, we found mites of the genus Balaustium, and Dermaptera of the genus Doru, both species in great abundance. Laboratory tests were performed to compare the potential parasitism of T. atopovirilia against T. pretiosum. T. atopovirilia obtained 70.14% parasitism while T. pretiosum, 29.23%. In field cages, three doses of the parasitoids were tested. Total parasitism did not exceed 8% in any of the two species, but T. atopovirilia parasitized a greater number of hosts using two and three parasitoids per pest egg. Then, the use of Trichogramma species needs to be reevaluated in biological control programs against S. frugiperda.
Highlights
Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), one of the most harmful pests in the world, limited the yield of maize, sorghum, and other crops [1]
T. atopovirilia was recovered from three sites and Chelonus insularis Cresson from two sites
T. atopovirilia was 2.8% in maize crops in Comonfort in the 2017 cycle, 3.75% in maize in Acámbaro, and 2.47% in sorghum in Tarimoro during the 2018 cycle; all those places are located in Guanajuato
Summary
Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), one of the most harmful pests in the world, limited the yield of maize, sorghum, and other crops [1]. This species is widely distributed among the Americas and has recently been reported in 43 countries throughout Africa and some in Asia, such as. S. frugiperda is the main maize pest in Mexico and can reduce the production of this grain by 45% [8]; and Argentina reports yield losses of up to 72% [9] It has been recently introduced in Africa (2016), it has caused losses between 20% and 50% of cultivated maize in this area [10]. The high infestation rates of S. frugiperda, and the economic losses that it causes, are the justification for the use of organ-synthetic pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides as the most frequent control
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