Biological Control of Spodoptera frugiperda Eggs Using Telenomus remus Nixon in Maize-Bean-Squash Polyculture

Abstract

The maize earworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an important pest in maize. Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is an important control agent of this pest due to its capacity to invade the whole egg mass. The percentage of parasitism by Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs was evaluated in maize-bean, maize-squash and maize-bean-squash polyculture and maize monoculture systems. Data were analyzed statistically by using a Poisson regression (log-linear model). The analysis showed highly significant differences in the percentage of parasitism of S. frugiperda eggs by T. remus in plots with jarocho crema maize in polyculture systems (91.00±1.42%) compared to the yellow maize genotype (68.90±3.10%). Parasitism percentages increased in the jarocho crema maize genotype in maize-bean, maize-squash, maize-bean-squash polycultures and maize monoculture by 87.88±3.27%, 89.75±1.99, 99.50±0.19 and 86.88±2.66%, respectively and in the yellow maize genotype they dropped by 70.00±7.05, 64.50±5.63, 77.88±6.51 and 63.25±5.20%, respectively. The percentage of T. remus parasitism on S. frugiperda eggs was found to be affected by the genotype of maize, bean and squash, polyculture system, weeds, densities of the host eggs and numbers and quality of egg masses.