The potential of parasitism of Campoletis flavicincta (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) larvae of different ages and foliar consumption of parasitized and non-parasitized larvae were evaluated. When 3-d old larvae were offered to the parasitoid the number of pararasitized larvae was 232/female, similar to what was obtained with 2-d old larvae (182 larvae/female); with 4-5-d old larvae, parasitism was 80.7 and 71.0/female, respectively. Healthy larvae consumed 209.3 cm² of leaf, while parasitized larvae consumed 14.5 cm² (6.9% of consumption by healthy larvae).
Insecta; fall armyworm; parasitism; biological control; food intake
