Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment, 2023, 12, 16-27
https://www.scirp.org/journal/jacen
ISSN Online: 2325-744X
ISSN Print: 2325-7458
DOI: 10.4236/jacen.2023.1210022 Jan. 17, 2023 16 Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment
Inventory of Host Plants and Parasitoids of the
Fall Armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda
(JE Smith), in the Southern Agricultural Zone of
Niger
Ousmane Zakari Moussa
1*
, Souleymane Laminou
2,3
, Hamissou Zangui
1
, Laouali Amadou
3
,
Ibrahim Baoua Boukari
2
1
Faculty of Agronomy, Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niamey, Niger
2
Faculty of Agronomy and Environmental Sciences, Dan Dicko Dankoulodo University of Maradi, Maradi, Niger
3
Laboratoire d’Entomologie II de Maradi, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique du Niger, Maradi, Niger
Abstract
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith), is a polyphagous pest
reported in sub-Saharan Africa since 2016 and has expanded rapidly in al-
most Africa. In Niger, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) is considered like a
major pest of maize, to which it causes significant damage, in a context where
proven control methods against this moth remain almost non-existent. The
objective of the present study was to determine the economic importance of
FAW through the damage caused to the different host plants and to identify
the parasitoids of this caterpillar. The study was conducted in the southern
agricultural zone of Niger, specifically in the regions of Dosso, Maradi, Ta-
houa and Zinder. FAW eggs and caterpillars were collected from six villages
in each region and then incubated and reared in the entomology laboratory of
INRAN in Maradi. The rate of infestation of the different crops by FAW was
determined as well as the observation of the beneficiaries. The results ob-
tained indicate the presence of FAW on millet with an attack rate varying
from 45.7% to 68%, sorghum with 47.2% to 62.25% and sesame with 9.7%.
This work also revealed an oophagous parasitoid, Telenomus remus with 138
± 23 and larval parasitoids, Cotesia sp with 16 ± 1 maximum number of indi-
viduals emerged from the collected material. Also, it was identified the para-
sitoid Cotesia icipe with a rate of parasitism from 4.6% to 5.75%; the Charops
ater whose rate of parasitism varies from 4.5% and 12.25% but for Chelonus
insularis with 17.25% and Tachnidae with 53%. These very interesting results
will constitute a basis for the development of biological control and a com-
How to cite this paper: Moussa, O.Z.,
Laminou, S., Zangui, H., Amadou, L. and
Boukari, I.B. (2023) Inventory of Host
Plants and Parasitoids of the Fall Army-
worm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE
Smith), in the Southern Agricultural Zone
of Niger. Journal of Agricultural Chemistry
and Environment, 12, 16-27.
https://doi.org/10.4236/jacen.2023.121002
Received: December 7, 2022
Accepted: January 14, 2023
Published: January 17, 2023
Copyright © 2023 by author(s) and
Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution International
License (CC BY 4.0).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Open Access