Impact of Native Parasites on the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in South Florida and Release of the Exotic Parasite, Eiphosoma vitticole (Hymenoptera: Ichnuemonidae)

Abstract

The native parasites Chelonus insularis Cresson, Temelucha sp., and Apanteles marginiventris (Cresson) were the primary species attacking the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), in unsprayed field corn in South Florida from 25 March to 30 June 1980. Parasites destroyed 63% of each of the first four FAW instars, and C. insularis emerged from 71% of the parasitized larvae. Generally, parasitization rates followed closely the increase or decrease in FAW larval populations. Eiphosoma vitticole Cresson was not recovered from any of five study plots. Chelonus insularis and Temelucha sp. did not emerge from larvae having head capsule widths greater than 1.8 mm, and A. marginiventris did not emerge from larvae with head capsule widths greater than 1.2 mm. Larvae not producing parasites were classified as nonparasitized; 53% of these became adult moths, 23% did not feed on the diet and therefore starved, and 24% fed on the diet but died from unknown causes before pupation.