Metrics details. Spodoptera frugiperda Smith, Lepidoptera: Noctuidae , also known as fall armyworm FAW is a polyphagous pest which can cause significant losses and is considered a global threat to different crops and a risk to food security.
Currently, in maize, the pest is predominantly controlled by pesticides or transgenic events. However, the use of biological control agents is considered the most sustainable and preferred method of control, providing high effectiveness.
Among the various natural enemies reported for FAW, the egg parasitoid Telenomus remus has gained most interest, and has been mass released against FAW in the Americas for many years. In addition to FAW, other armyworms of the genus Spodoptera often cause high crop damage and may be controlled using T.
Among other important aspects, this paper presents a review on T. The fall armyworm FAW , S. It feeds on leaves, stem and reproductive parts of a wide range of host plants, including common beans, cotton, maize, rice, sorghum, soybean, and vegetables among others Pogue ; Nagoshi ; Bueno et al. Not only is FAW a global threat to different crops but also a risk to food security Rwomushana et al. Currently, growers frequently apply synthetic insecticides to control Spodoptera spp.
However, the overuse of insecticides has triggered some negative side-effects Song and Swinton such as the selection of resistant pest populations Diez-Rodriguez and Omoto ; Carvalho et al. Therefore, a more sustainable Spodoptera spp. Integrated Pest Management IPM is defined as the combination of different control methods, implemented jointly to keep insect pest populations below the level of economic damage, considering economic, ecological and social criteria Norris et al.
