The parasitoid Trichogrammatoidea armigera Nagaraja (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is a potential candidate for biological control of the millet head miner Heliocheilus albipunctella (de Joannis) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Sahel

Abstract

• T. armigera is the most important parasitoid of eggs of the millet head miner in Niger. • Highest parasitism is observed at panicle emergence and on early-maturing material. • T. armigera effective against the millet head miner but not the millet stem borer. • T. armigera can be mass reared on eggs Corcyra cephalonica year-round. • Coniesta ignefusalis and Noorda blitealis are not suitable for T. armigera. • Helicoverpa armigera could maintain T. armigera population.