Abstract
In the context of the modern agriculture, pest control is important in order to increase productivity in maize (Zea mays L.). However, this control should be done rationally, prioritising environmentally safer methods such as biological control. This paper aims to report the occurrence of Dolichozele koebelei Viereck, 1911 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae collected in maize subjected to different cropping systems. The experiment was conducted at the Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Milho e Sorgo (CNPMS) in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, using organic and conventional production. Ten plants were sampled from each of the 24 plots and for each production system, three times a week during the entire cycle of maize (variety BR 106). In the laboratory, larvae were distributed in individual rearing containers with artificial diet until the end of the biological cycle. An increased number of S. frugiperda larvae was observed in organic single crop maize; hence a higher percentage of S. frugiperda larvae parasitised by Hymenoptera and Diptera also occurred in the maize under this production system. Dolichozele koebelei had not yet been described in association with larvae of S. frugiperda. The percentage of parasitism of S. frugiperda larvae was high in both experiments, indicating the importance of natural control agents in reducing the population density of S. frugiperda, and especially the importance of an appropriate crop management.
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important crops in Brazil, presenting record production and productivity
The aim of this study was to report the occurrence of Dolichozele koebelei Viereck, 1911 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae; Macrocentrinae) in larvae of S. frugiperda collected in maize under different cropping systems
The experiments were conducted during the 2010/2011 season in the Cerrado region, in field trials and in the Laboratório de Criação de Insetos (Lacri) of the Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Milho e Sorgo (CNPMS), in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil (19 ° 28’ S and 44 ° 15’ W)
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important crops in Brazil, presenting record production and productivity. Many pests are important in the maize agroecosystem, and are well known especially in conventional cultivation. The production of maize in the organic system still needs greater research effort to determine the exact occurrence and economic importance of each pest species (Macfadyen et al, 2009; Bengtsson et al, 2005). E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is especially important among these pests, and can reduce the production of grains in 15-73% under favourable conditions (Cruz and Turpin, 1982, 1983; Cruz et al, 1996, 1999; Hruska and Gould, 1997; Figueiredo et al, 2006a, b), with losses estimated at over 400 million dollars (Cruz et al, 1999)
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