Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda is a new pest that invaded Egyptian fields and has destroyed
many economic crops, including maize, sorghum, and rice due to its voracious appetite. Natural enemies
play a great role in controlling population densities of this pest, the parasitoid Barylypa rufa is a successful
parasitoid on genus Spodoptera i.e. S. littoralis and S. exigua in nature. In this study, B. rufa was observed
and recorded as a larval - pupal parasitoid on S. frugiperda for the first time from the Egyptian fauna. The
present work also covers the diagnostic and recognition characteristics of B . rufa adults (head capsule,
antenna, wings, legs, and abdomen). Ultimately, with this discovery of the parasitoid B. rufa as an
important bio-control agent, which biologically participates in the suppression of FAW populations
naturally under Egyptian conditions, its role in the Egyptian agricultural environment should be enhanced
to contribute to the development of FAW control strategies. |
