4.7 Article

Old and new association of Cotesia icipe (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with alien invasive and native Spodoptera species and key stemborer species: implication for their management

Journal

PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
Volume -, Issue -, Pages -

Publisher

JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD
DOI: 10.1002/ps.7740

Keywords

biological control; parasitoid host range; invasive pest; fall armyworm; maize agroecosystem

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Maize production in Africa is often hindered by invasive and native stemborers, and the recent invasion of fall armyworm has exacerbated the situation. However, this study found that the insect Cotesia icipe has high potential to control fall armyworm, and the presence of other hosts does not prevent its maximum control.
BACKGROUND: Maize production in Africa is hindered by a myriad of biotic challenges, key among them being invasive and native lepidopteran stemborers. Recent invasion of the continent by fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, has further exacerbated the situation. Fortunately, Cotesia icipe was found to be very promising against S. frugiperda. However, the co-occurrence and interaction between S. frugiperda and the stemborers (Busseola fusca, Sesamia calamistis, and Chilo partellus) in maize agroecosystem may jeopardize the efficiency of C. icipe as a biocontrol agent of S. frugiperda. This study investigated the performance of C. icipe on S. frugiperda, Spodoptera littoralis and the stemborers. Specifically, the preference and acceptability of C. icipe to the host insects, the physiological suitability of the hosts for its development, and the effect of these hosts on the fitness parameters of the offspring were assessed.RESULTS: Cotesia icipe accepted all the tested hosts, albeit with higher preference for Spodoptera species than for stemborers under multiple-choice tests. Also, the highest parasitism of up to 97% was recorded on S. frugiperda compared with parasitism on the stemborers of 43% in B. fusca. Moreover, physiological suitability and fitness traits (except for per cent female offspring) varied with host species, again being optimal on Spodoptera species.CONCLUSION: Cotesia icipe demonstrated strong potential to control S. frugiperda in maize due to its high affinity for parasitization and developmental success in this host; and despite its non-specific parasitization, the presence of other hosts may not prevent its maximum control of S. frugiperda. (c) 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

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