Literature Review on the Natural Enemies of Spodoptera Frugiperda J. E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the Effectiveness of Their Use in the Management of This Pest in Corn (Zea Mays L.)

Abstract

The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an important maize pests that threaten food security in sub-Saharan Africa. In order to evaluate the diversity of natural enemies and especially their effectiveness for a sustainable management of this pest in Africa, a literature review was carried out. It consisted in exploiting 35 scientific publications from the most highly rated journals, over the period 2015-2020 relating to the inventory of the natural enemies of S. frugiperda and their effectiveness in the world in general and more particularly in Africa. It emerges from this study that there is a large diversity of natural enemies of S. frugiperda in the world. In total, 66 species of natural enemies belonging to 21 families in 10 orders have been recorded. Parasitoids have been the most studied 43 (64.18%) and the most used in the control of S. frugiperda, followed by predators 13 (19.40%) and entomopathogens (13.42%). In Africa, 24 of the 67 species have been recorded in 9 countries. Parasitoids were also created with a rate of 26.86% or 75.00% at the African level. The main most effective parasitoids were Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), Chelonus insularis Cresson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Cotesia marginiventris Cresson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with parasitism rates varying between 0.85 and 9.90% depending on the environments. In view of the results, since these species have been listed in Africa, they seem to be real candidates for future programs for the sustainable management of this caterpillar. Research is underway in Togo and probably in the rest of the countries of the continent for a better knowledge and development of these natural enemies.