Genetic diversity of parasitoids and entomopathogenic nematodes of Spodoptera frugiperda Smith, 1797 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Senegal

The pest Spodoptera frugiperda, when it invades Africa, is associated with a parasitic fauna, justifying the need to characterize the genetic diversity of its natural enemies in Senegal. Thus the rDNA of the large subunit, 28S was amplified. The study revealed the existence of 12 species of parasitoids obtained and 3 species of entomopathogenic nematodes. Parasitoids are divided into two orders (Hymenoptera and Diptera) and five families (Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Eulophidae, Encyrtidae and Tachinidae). These parasitoids are Sinophorus exartemae, Chelonus sp., Parapanteles sp., Dolichogenidea sp. 1, Dolichogenidea sp. 2, Meteorus sp., Meteorus orocrambivorus, Euplectrus phthorimaeae, Prochiloneurus testaceus, Ooencyrtus masii, Drino sp. and Senometopia cariniforceps. Nematodes are members of the family Mermithidae and correspond to Hexamermis sp., Mermithidae sp. 1 and Mermithidae sp. 2. All these species attack the larval stage except O. masii which is oophagous. This study also reports new associations between S. frugiperda and the parasitoids S. exartemae, M. orocrambivorus, E. phthorimaeae, P. testaceus, O. masii and S. cariniforceps. To our knowledge, these six species, in addition to Drino sp., have just been known in the entomological fauna of Senegal. Therefore, it is urgent to protect these auxiliaries from the abusive and inappropriate use of chemical insecticides for sustainable management.