<p><strong>Is </strong><strong><em>Pyemotes zhonghuajia</em></strong><strong> (Acari: Pyemotidae) a suitable biological control agent against the fall armyworm </strong><strong><em>Spodoptera frugiperda</em></strong><strong> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)?</strong><strong></strong></p>

Abstract

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is one of the most damaging noctuid pests of maize and is reported in China at the beginning of 2019. It poses a serious threat to the food security of China. In order to find an attractive alternative to reduce the application of chemical insecticides, we screened different initial mite densities of Pyemotes zhonghuajia on the mortality rate of different stages of FAW and also recorded the number of P. zhonghuajia on FAW at the different times (24, 48, and 72 h). The results showed that initial mite densities had a significant effect on the mortality rates of all stages of FAW and the number of P. zhonghuajia found on the surface of FAW. One P. zhonghuajia female was able to significantly induce the mortality of FAW in the 1st to 3rd instar larvae, and the mite density of 40 could achieve 100% FAW mortality when added 1st to 5th instar larvae and prepupae. There was an increasing number of P. zhonghuajia on FAW from the 2nd to 4th instar larvae stages at all three days. These results provide the basic information for considering P. zhonghuajia as a suitable bio-control agent against FAW in China.