Parasitoids of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Maize Crop of the Yucatan Peninsula: New Records and Updated Knowledge in Mexico

The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one of the most important maize pests. Entomophagous insects, including parasitoids, have been used as a pest-control alternative. The objective of this study was to determine the species and percentage of parasitoid emergence from S. frugiperda larvae collected in maize crops in two states of the Yucatan Peninsula, Campeche and Yucatan. Larvae were collected from August 2020 to September 2022 and transported to the laboratory where they were reared using freshly cut maize leaves as food, until either parasitoid emergence or completion of S. frugiperda development. A total of 1,173 S. frugiperda larvae were collected; of which, 163 were parasitized. Parasitoidism rates of 10 % and 4.4 % were observed in larvae collected from Yucatan and Campeche, respectively. Parasitoids found belong to three families: Braconidae (21 individuals), Tachinidae (77) and Eulophidae (134). The most abundant species were Euplectrus plathypenae (Eulophidae) and Archytas marmoratus (Tachinidae). Both are new records, as well as Chelonus (Microchelonus) cautus and Chelonus insularis (Braconidae), for Yucatan and Campeche, respectively. Further, we provide and updated synthesis of available knowledge on parasitoids species associated with S. frugiperda in Mexico based on a review of articles in English or Spanish from 2000 to the present, using academic search engines. In the last 15 years, 63 parasitoid species of S. frugiperda have been recorded in Mexico, with C. insularis and C. cautus as the most recorded parasitoids of fall armyworm across the country.