Aleiodes sp. nov. Wesmael, 1838 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), potential biological control agent for species of the Spodoptera complex

• Grant number: 22/06321-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2022
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: José Roberto Postali Parra
• Grantee: Jailma Rodrigues dos Santos
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Company: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ)
• Associated research grant: 18/02317-5 - Center for Excellence in Biological Control, AP.PCPE

Abstract

Aleiodes Wesmael, 1838 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a genus of cenobiont endoparasitoid of Lepidoptera quite common in different parts of the world and with several described species. A new species of Aleiodes was collected in São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil, parasitizing some species of the Spodoptera complex including Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker, 1858), Spodoptera eridania (Stoll, 1782), and Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797), pests of economic importance, in particular, for corn, soybean and cotton. The registration and the possibility of multiplication in the laboratory accredit this new species as a potential biological control agent, by killing the host, mummifying it. Thus, the objective of this present project is to investigate the parasitism potential of Aleiodes sp. Nov. on three species of the Spodoptera complex: S. cosmioides, S. eridania and S. frugiperda. To achieve the objective, a sequence of studies will be carried out: I) parasitism and development of Aleiodes sp. nov. in different instars of the species of the Spodoptera complex; II) rhythm of parasitism of Aleiodes sp. Nov. on selected species of the Spodoptera complex selected; III) relation of the number of parasitoids (Aleiodes sp. nov.) and the host (Spodoptera spp.) to determine the number of parasitoids to be released. (AU)