Performance of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs at laboratory and field conditions
Abstract The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), is a significant pest threatening crops like maize across Africa, necessitating sustainable pest management alternatives. This study evaluates the efficacy of Trichogramma evanescens as a biological control agent against FAW egg masses...
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Nature Portfolio
2024-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77347-0 |
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| author | Hosam M. K. H. El-Gepaly Khaled M. A. Abdelhameed Shimaa Y. E. Shakl Ahmed A. Saleh Elsayed E. Hafez |
| author_facet | Hosam M. K. H. El-Gepaly Khaled M. A. Abdelhameed Shimaa Y. E. Shakl Ahmed A. Saleh Elsayed E. Hafez |
| author_sort | Hosam M. K. H. El-Gepaly |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), is a significant pest threatening crops like maize across Africa, necessitating sustainable pest management alternatives. This study evaluates the efficacy of Trichogramma evanescens as a biological control agent against FAW egg masses in Egypt under laboratory and semi-field conditions. FAW larvae were initially collected from infested maize fields and reared on castor-oil plant leaves. Meanwhile, T. evanescens was propagated using Sitotroga cerealella eggs as hosts. The host eggs, aged 18 to 24 h, were sterilized with UV light to prevent host development while maintaining suitability for parasitism. Using custom-designed parasitoid incubators and hemisphere clip-cages, experiments focused on various egg mass configurations, assessing the effects of scales and layering. Laboratory conditions were controlled at 25 ± 2ºC and 55 ± 5% relative humidity, while semi-field trials used large cages in maize fields to approximate natural conditions. The results showed that in laboratory settings, parasitism rates averaged 5.96%, 2.00%, and 1.56% for non-, average-, and dense-scale egg masses, respectively. For egg masses with varying layers, parasitism rates were 5.24% for single-layer, 3.09% for double-layer, and 1.18% for ple-layer, regardless of scale presence. In semi-field conditions, parasitism rates were 1.01% for single-layer, 1.13% for double-layer, and 0.59% for triple-layer egg masses. Correspondingly, parasitism rates for non-, average-, and dense-scale eggs were 1.85%, 0.60% and 0.27%. The study concludes that T. evanescens shows promise for integrated pest management programs; however, its effectiveness is constrained by physical and environmental variables. Optimizing the timing of parasitoid releases and selecting robust strains could enhance the effectiveness of biological control, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides in Egypt. |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-325fee7a9c5d4fe2a0d21e1fdf0646582025-08-20T02:13:39ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111010.1038/s41598-024-77347-0Performance of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs at laboratory and field conditionsHosam M. K. H. El-Gepaly0Khaled M. A. Abdelhameed1Shimaa Y. E. Shakl2Ahmed A. Saleh3Elsayed E. Hafez4Biological Pest Control Research Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research CenterApicalture Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research CenterDepartment of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Resources, Aswan UniversityAnimal and Fish Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture (Al-Shatby), Alexandria UniversityCity of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, Arid Lands Cultivations Research InstituteAbstract The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), is a significant pest threatening crops like maize across Africa, necessitating sustainable pest management alternatives. This study evaluates the efficacy of Trichogramma evanescens as a biological control agent against FAW egg masses in Egypt under laboratory and semi-field conditions. FAW larvae were initially collected from infested maize fields and reared on castor-oil plant leaves. Meanwhile, T. evanescens was propagated using Sitotroga cerealella eggs as hosts. The host eggs, aged 18 to 24 h, were sterilized with UV light to prevent host development while maintaining suitability for parasitism. Using custom-designed parasitoid incubators and hemisphere clip-cages, experiments focused on various egg mass configurations, assessing the effects of scales and layering. Laboratory conditions were controlled at 25 ± 2ºC and 55 ± 5% relative humidity, while semi-field trials used large cages in maize fields to approximate natural conditions. The results showed that in laboratory settings, parasitism rates averaged 5.96%, 2.00%, and 1.56% for non-, average-, and dense-scale egg masses, respectively. For egg masses with varying layers, parasitism rates were 5.24% for single-layer, 3.09% for double-layer, and 1.18% for ple-layer, regardless of scale presence. In semi-field conditions, parasitism rates were 1.01% for single-layer, 1.13% for double-layer, and 0.59% for triple-layer egg masses. Correspondingly, parasitism rates for non-, average-, and dense-scale eggs were 1.85%, 0.60% and 0.27%. The study concludes that T. evanescens shows promise for integrated pest management programs; however, its effectiveness is constrained by physical and environmental variables. Optimizing the timing of parasitoid releases and selecting robust strains could enhance the effectiveness of biological control, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides in Egypt.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77347-0Trichogramma evanescensSpodoptera frugiperdaFall armywormFAWBiological aspects |
| spellingShingle | Hosam M. K. H. El-Gepaly Khaled M. A. Abdelhameed Shimaa Y. E. Shakl Ahmed A. Saleh Elsayed E. Hafez Performance of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs at laboratory and field conditions Scientific Reports Trichogramma evanescens Spodoptera frugiperda Fall armyworm FAW Biological aspects |
| title | Performance of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs at laboratory and field conditions |
| title_full | Performance of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs at laboratory and field conditions |
| title_fullStr | Performance of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs at laboratory and field conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Performance of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs at laboratory and field conditions |
| title_short | Performance of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs at laboratory and field conditions |
| title_sort | performance of trichogramma evanescens westwood hymenoptera trichogrammatidae on spodoptera frugiperda j e smith lepidoptera noctuidae eggs at laboratory and field conditions |
| topic | Trichogramma evanescens Spodoptera frugiperda Fall armyworm FAW Biological aspects |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77347-0 |
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