Parasitoids of Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from a Traditional Maize Crop in the Mexican State of Yucatan

Abstract

Studies on the natural enemies of the fall army worm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) have reported a great di versity of associated parasitoids. Approximately 150 species of FAW parasitoids from 13 families have been recorded occurring in the Americas (Molina-Ochoa et al. 2003). Twenty-two species have been reported for Mexico, and species compo sition seems to vary throughout the country (Molina-Ochoa et al. 2004). In Northern states of Mexico parasitoids associated to FAW are entirely hymenopterans, whereas FAW parasitoid assem blages in some Southern states, i.e., Tabasco, Quintana Roo and Chiapas, include wasps and tachinid flies (Mach?in et al. 1975; Zapata 1984; Cabrera & Garc?a 1985; Molina-Ochoa et al. 2001). Here we report for the first time parasitoids of FAW from the Southern Mexican state of Yucatan. Direct FAW larval collections were performed within a traditional maize crop (Zea mays Lin naeus) located 9 km from the locality of Teya Yucatan, from July 19th to Sep 27th 1999. All FAW larvae detected on plants in 3 transects (composed by 1 meter square quadrants) within a 2-hectares area were collected for 3 d continuously fortnightly (totaling 5 surveys during the overall period). Col lections corresponded with the rainy season, and started 3 weeks after maize seeding and ended when maize was ready for harvest. The maize crop was part of a milpa, agro-system associating maize, bean, squash, chilli, and other crops, which was the main cropping system during the pre-His panic period and still in use in some parts of Mex ico. The milpa was surrounded by a patch of tropi cal deciduous dry-forest, and other maize crops. FAW larvae collected were taken to the labora