ABSTRACT:
This study investigated the natural parasitism of Mythimna sequax Franclemont, 1951, in wheat during the crop season of 2008. In total, 237 larvae were captured, of which 10.12% were parasitized. The Tachinidae species Winthemia trinitatis (Thompson, 1963), Winthemia tricolor (Wulp, 1890), Lespesia aletiae (Riley, 1879), and Lespesia archippivora Beneway, 1963 are reported for the first time parasitizing the wheat armyworm in Brazil. In addition, two other genus of parasitoids were identified, one Tachinidae Peleteria Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 and one Ichneumonidae Ophion (Fabricius, 1798). This study reported for the first time four Tachinidae species parasitizing W. sequax, and further studies are needed to promote the conservation of these parasitoids in agroecossystem and development biological control programs for management of the wheat armyworm.
Key words:
natural biological control; wheat pests; Tachinidae; parasitoids.
