First report of Trichogramma rojasi parasitizing eggs of Spodoptera frugiperda

The larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), known as fall armyworm, is the main insect pest of corn crop and its control is done with chemicals. An alternative is biological control, in particular, the egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma Westwood, 1833 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). For the effective application of biological control, it is necessary to evaluate the complex of species/strains occurring in eggs of S. frugiperda. With this objective, samples of egg masses of S. frugiperda were taken in the corn crop in the 10(th) Distrito de Arroio Grande, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State, where it was observed the first occurrence of Trichogramma rojasi Nagaraja & Nagarkatti, 1973 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) parasitizing eggs of S. frugiperda.. The occurrence of 1: rojasi in eggs of S. frugiperda opens perspective so that this parasitoid can be studied in order to integrate biological control programs in corn in Rio Grande do Sul State.