RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NATURAL ENEMIES AND Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. SMITH, 1797) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) ON MAIZE CROP

The experiment was conducted during the summer season in a savanna type soil in Sete Lagoas, MG, Brazil. The occurrence of natural enemies associated to Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on maize crop (Hybrid BRS 3123) was evaluated from a single artificial infestation with one egg mass in each five plant set. Random samples (20 plants/plot) were collected at a two-day interval, the first one two days after infestation and the last 16 days. The host larvae were individually placed inside a plastic cup contained artificial diet until natural enemies emergence. The insect predators Orius sp. (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) and Doru luteipes Scudder (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) were the main especies found. Among parasitoids, Chelonus insularis (Cresson), (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) present in all samples, represented 91% of the collected species. Other Hymenoptera species included Eiphosoma laphygmae Costa Lima (Ichneumonidae), Exasticolus fuscicornis (Cameron) (Braconidae), Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) (Braconidae), Campoletis flavicincta (Ashmead) (Ichneumonidae), and Pristomerus spinator (Fabricius) (Ichneumonidae). Archytas incertus (Macquart) (Diptera: Tachinidae) was also collected inside the experimental area