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Biorationals and Synthetic Insecticides for Controlling Fall Armyworm and Their Influence on the Abundance and Diversity of Parasitoids

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Hilary Otim

    (National Crops Resources Research Institute Namulonge, National Agricultural Research Organization, Kampala P.O. Box 7084, Uganda)

  • Angella Lowra Ajam

    (National Crops Resources Research Institute Namulonge, National Agricultural Research Organization, Kampala P.O. Box 7084, Uganda)

  • Geofrey Ogwal

    (National Crops Resources Research Institute Namulonge, National Agricultural Research Organization, Kampala P.O. Box 7084, Uganda
    Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Kampala P.O. Box 24384, Uganda)

  • Stella Aropet Adumo

    (National Agricultural Research Laboratories, Kawanda, National Agricultural Research Organization, Kampala P.O. Box 7065, Uganda)

  • Dalton Kanyesigye

    (National Crops Resources Research Institute Namulonge, National Agricultural Research Organization, Kampala P.O. Box 7084, Uganda)

  • Saliou Niassy

    (International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772, Kenya)

  • Girma Hailu

    (International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772, Kenya)

  • Komivi Senyo Akutse

    (International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772, Kenya
    Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa)

  • Sevgan Subramanian

    (International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772, Kenya)

Abstract

Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm, FAW) is a significant economic pest of maize in Uganda. Many Ugandan maize farmers employ synthetic insecticides as their main form of control despite the negative impacts of these chemicals. We tested the effectiveness of Beauveria bassiana ; General Biopesticide Cocktail (mixture of B. bassiana , M. anisopliae , Isaria fumosoroseus , Lecanicillium lecani and Purporeocillium lilacanus three strains of Metarhizium anisopliae , Nimbecidine ® (azadirachtin 0.03%EC), and Roket ® (cypermethrin 4% and profenofos 40%); and Amdocs ® (emamectin benzoate 2% and abamectin 1%) on fall armyworm and parasitoids, respectively, in 2020 and 2021. The treatments with the greatest decrease in leaf damage and infestation were Amdocs ® and Roket ® , followed by Nimbecidine ® . The biopesticides were not always more effective than the untreated control, though; their efficacy was often lower than that of the synthetic and botanical pesticides. We recovered one egg parasitoid, Telenomus remus , and seven egg and egg-larval parasitoids ( Coccygidium luteum , Coccygidium sp., Cotesia icipe , Chelonus sp., Micranisa sp., Charops cf. diversipes , and an unidentified Tachinidae). Among these, C. cf diversipes , Chelonus sp., C. luteum , C. icipe and the Tachinidae were the most abundant. Parasitism was low, averaging 10% for egg masses and 5.3% for larvae. Application of synthetic pesticides and Nimbecidine ® often resulted in higher yield when compared with the untreated control. In general, a low population of parasitoids was observed. Although the parasitoid population reduced in plots treated with Amdocs ® and Roket ® , the percentage of parasitism of FAW was not affected. In some instances, higher yields were realized in untreated control when compared with the treated plots. Pest management practices more compatible with biological control need to be considered for the management of fall armyworm.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Hilary Otim & Angella Lowra Ajam & Geofrey Ogwal & Stella Aropet Adumo & Dalton Kanyesigye & Saliou Niassy & Girma Hailu & Komivi Senyo Akutse & Sevgan Subramanian, 2024. "Biorationals and Synthetic Insecticides for Controlling Fall Armyworm and Their Influence on the Abundance and Diversity of Parasitoids," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:8:p:3118-:d:1372459
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Junitor Chepkemoi & Ken Okwae Fening & Felicitas Chaba Ambele & Joseph Munywoki & Komivi Senyo Akutse, 2023. "Direct and Indirect Infection Effects of Four Potent Fungal Isolates on the Survival and Performance of Fall Armyworm Larval Parasitoid Cotesia icipe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-12, February.
    2. Olaf Erenstein & Moti Jaleta & Kai Sonder & Khondoker Mottaleb & B.M. Prasanna, 2022. "Global maize production, consumption and trade: trends and R&D implications," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(5), pages 1295-1319, October.
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