Meteorus pulchricornis(Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), another addition to the native parasitoid complex of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in India

Abstract

During the surveys undertaken in July-September 2020, a braconid solitary koinobiont endoparasitoid, Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Euphorinae) was found parasitizing the invasive pest, fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in maize. Meteorus pulchricornis is a new addition to the known and rapidly expanding parasitoid complex of FAW in India. The present study provides morphological identification details of M. pulchricornis along with comparison notes of other closely allied and confusing species.