Hymenopteran parasitoids of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)) in Australia, with the description of five new species in the families Braconidae and Eulophidae

Authors

Erinn P. Fagan-Jeffries, University of Western Australia
Melina M. Miles, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland
Tareva-Chine C. Atkin-Zaldivar, University of Adelaide
Andy G. Howe, University of the Sunshine Coast
Siva Subramaniam, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland
Donna M. Chambers, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland
Frezzel Praise J Tadle, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland
Saleh Adnan, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia
Verni Sivasubramaniam, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland
Alice Woodward, Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board
Helen Spafford, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Brian Thistleton, Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-29-2024

Journal Title

Austral Entomology

ISSN

ISSN: 2052-174X, eISSN: 2052-1758

Keywords

biological control, Chelonus, Coccygidium, Euplectrus

Disciplines

Agricultural Science | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Biosecurity | Entomology

Abstract

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is an invasive pest of agricultural crops including sweet corn and maize. The moth was first recorded in Australia in January 2020 and is now considered established in most states and territories, and research is underway to develop management strategies. Extensive rearing of S. frugiperda larvae and eggs occurred from March 2020 to April 2023 to understand the parasitoid complex present in Australia and identify potential biological control agents. We report here on the hymenopteran parasitoids reared during this period, which were identified using a combination of morphology and COI DNA barcoding, and provide images, a key to species, and contextual information to facilitate future research. Twelve species of parasitoids from five families of Hymenoptera are formally reported as parasitising S. frugiperda in Australia. Five species are here described as new: Chelonus patbat Fagan-Jeffries, sp. nov. (Braconidae), Chelonus trojanus Fagan-Jeffries, sp. nov. (Braconidae), Coccygidium mellosiheroine Atkin-Zaldivar & Fagan-Jeffries, sp. nov. (Braconidae), Coccygidium necatrix Atkin-Zaldivar & Fagan-Jeffries, sp. nov. (Braconidae), and Euplectrus frugiperdata Fagan-Jeffries, sp. nov. (Eulophidae).

Recommended Citation

Fagan-Jeffries, E.P., Miles, M.M., Atkin-Zaldivar, T.-C.C., Howe, A.G., Subramaniam, S., Chambers, D.M. et al. (2024) Hymenopteran parasitoids of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)) in Australia, with the description of five new species in the families Braconidae and Eulophidae. Austral Entomology, 63(2), 136–174. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.12682