Natural enemies of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Ghana

  • Djima Koffi African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
  • Rosina Kyerematen Animal Biology and Conservation Science Department, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
  • Vincent Y Eziah Crop Science Department, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
  • Komi Agboka Ecole Supérieure d’Agronomie, Université de Lomé, Togo
  • Medetissi Adom African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
  • Georg Goergen International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Cotonou, Benin
  • Robert L Meagher USDA-ARS CMAVE, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2769-1043

Abstract

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an invasive insect pest attacking maize in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa countries. Biological control will need to be an important management strategy, and a first step was to identify potential natural enemies. Sampling was conducted in different localities of the 10 regions of Ghana from May to Nov 2017. A total of 1,062 larvae were collected from 106 maize farms, and the presence of natural enemies was recorded in 18 (17.0%) farms. Among natural enemies recorded, 7 species were parasitoids: Chelonus bifoveolatus Szpligeti, Coccygidium luteum (Brull), Cotesia icipe Fernandez, Meteoridea testacea (Granger), and Bracon sp. (all Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Anatrichus erinaceus Loew (Diptera: Chloropidae), and an undetermined tachinid fly (Diptera: Tachinidae). The parasitism rate was 3.58%. Three predator species were collected: Pheidole megacephala (F.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Haematochares obscuripennis Stål, and Peprius nodulipes (Signoret) (both Heteroptera: Reduviidae). The 2 most abundant parasitoids were C. bifoveolatus and C. luteum with a relative abundance of 29.0% and 23.7%, respectively, and a parasitism rate of 1.04% and 0.85%, respectively. However, C. bifoveolatus was the most dispersed parasitoid, found in 6.6% of the inspected sites within all the agroecological zones of Ghana. This species is a good candidate as a biological control agent for fall armyworm in Africa. The predator that was most abundant (46.0%) and dispersed (3.8% of the farms) was P. megacephala.

Key Words: biological control; Cotesia bifoveolatus; Pheidole megacephala; Coccygidium

Resumen

El cogollero, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), es una plaga de insectos invasora que ataca el maíz en Ghana y los países de África subsahariana. El control biológico deberá ser una estrategia de manejo importante, y un primer paso es identificar los enemigos naturales potenciales. Se realizó el muestreo en diferentes localidades de las 10 regiones de Ghana desde mayo hasta noviembre del 2017. Se recolectó un total de 1.062 larvas de 106 granjas de maíz, y se registró la presencia de enemigos naturales en 18 granjas (17.0%). Entre los enemigos naturales registrados, 7 especies fueron parasitoides: Chelonus bifoveolatus Szpligeti, Coccygidium luteum (Brull), Cotesia icipe Fernandez, Meteoridea testacea (Granger) y Bracon sp. (todos los Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Anatrichus erinaceus Loew (Diptera: Chloropidae) y una mosca taquinida indeterminada (Diptera: Tachinidae). La tasa de parasitismo fue del 3.58%. Se recolectaron tres especies de depredadores: Pheidole megacephala (F.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Haematochares obscuripennis Stål y Peprius nodulipes (Signoret) (ambos Heteroptera: Reduviidae). Los 2 parasitoides más abundantes fueron C. bifoveolatus y C. luteum con una abundancia relativa del 29.0% y 23.7%, respectivamente, y una tasa de parasitismo del 1.04% y 0.85%, respectivamente. Sin embargo, C. bifoveotus fue el parasitoide más disperso, encontrado en el 6.6% de los sitios inspeccionados dentro de todas las zonas agroecológicas de Ghana. Esta especie es un buen candidato como agente de control biológico para el cogollero en África. El depredador que fue más abundante (46.0%) y disperso (3.8% de las granjas) fue P. megacephala.

Palabras Claves: control biológico; Cotesia bifoveolatus; Pheidole megacephala; Coccygidium

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Author Biography

Robert L Meagher, USDA-ARS CMAVE, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA

There is a mix of authors from Ghana, Togo, Benin, and the U.S.

Published
2020-04-15
Issue
Vol. 103, No. 1 (March 2020)
Section
Research Papers

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