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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #228264
Title: Parasitization of fall armyworm by the eulophid parasitoid Euplectrus platyhypenae

Author
item Meagher, Robert - Rob

Submitted to: Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/2008
Publication Date: 7/16/2008
Citation: Meagher Jr, R.L. 2008. Parasitization of fall armyworm by the eulophid parasitoid Euplectrus platyhypenae. Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), is attacked by parasitoids from several different families of Hymenoptera and Diptera. One species, Euplectrus platyhypenae Howard (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), has been consistently recovered from larvae in whorl-stage corn and from larvae feeding in pasture grasses. This species is a gregarious larval ectoparasitoid attacking all stages of larvae except neonates. Parasitization rates for this species have been as high as 53% in spring-planted corn in Alachua Co., although the average rate for the last two years has been 22.3%. This parasitoid is easy to culture in the laboratory and future studies will determine if timely releases will help reduce fall armyworm populations.