Entomophagous Insects of The Invasive Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Nixon) in African and Asian countries

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Biological Control, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperdais a highly destructive pest of cereals and is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of North, Central and South America. The insect is polyphagous with a host range of 353 plant species in 76 families and was reported to cause 8.3 to 20.6 million tones losses in maize yield/year which represents 21 – 53% of the total production. 
             A total of 48 parasitoids (6 species of egg parasitoids, 4 species of egg-larval parasitoids, 34 species of larval parasitoids, 3 species of larval-pupal parasitoids and one pupal parasitoid) of Spodoptera frugiperda have been recorded in African countries since its invasion in 2016. In addition, 18 predator species have been found to be associated with this insect in maize and rice fields. In Asian countries, a total of 24 parasitoids (6 egg parasitoids, 2 egg-larval parasitoids and 16 larval parasitoids) have been recorded as well as 11 predator species. The most common egg parasitoid is Telenomus remus which is recorded in 8 countries of Africa as well as three countries of Asia (out of the 4 countries mentioned in Asia). The most common egg-larval parasitoid in Africa is Chelonus bifoveolatus as it is recorded in 8 countries whereas Ch. formosanus and Ch. nr blackburni are recorded in India (Asia). The most common larval parasitoids in Africa are Coccygidium luteum (7 countries),  Cotesia icipe (6 countries) and Charops sp. (6 countries), whereas the most common one in India (Asia) is Campoletis chlorideae.

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