Efficacy of Bracon hebetor Say on Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) evaluated with Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.), Spodoptera litura Fabricius and Corcyra cephalonica Stainton as alternate hosts

Abstract

Bracon hebetor is a common parasitic wasp of Lepidopteran larvae and can attack coleopteran larvae. It is an ecto larval parasitoid belongs to the family Braconidae of order Hymenoptera. The wasp has wide host range and successful biocontrol agent recommended for the control of lepidopteran larvae in many crops and stored grains. Occurrence of fall army worm, Spodoptera frugiperda was reported recently in June 2018 in India. A study on Bracon hebetor parasitization effects on Spodoptera frugiperda in comparison with Spodoptera litura, Helicoverpa armigera and Corcyra cephalonica was conducted by providing them as alternate hosts under laboratory conditions at National Institute of Plant Health Management, Rajendranagar, India. The study revealed that when all the hosts were offered to Bracon hebetor it is parasitizing in the order of C. cephalonica followed by H. armigera, and then S. frugiperda, there was no parasitization on S. litura. When two hosts were offered Bracon hebetor preferred C. cephalonica over H. armigera and H. armigera over S. frugiperda. When individual hosts were offered Bracon hebetor is forming more larvae, pupae and producing more adults on C. cephalonica followed by H. armigera then on S. frugiperda, and no egg laying and pupation was observed on S. litura.