Hymenopteran parasitoids of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)) in Australia, with the description of five new species in the families Braconidae and Eulophidae

Abstract

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is an invasive pest of agriculturalcrops including sweet corn and maize. The moth was first recorded in Australia inJanuary 2020 and is now considered established in most states and territories, andresearch is underway to develop management strategies. Extensive rearing ofS. frugiperda larvae and eggs occurred from March 2020 to April 2023 to under-stand the parasitoid complex present in Australia and identify potential biologicalcontrol agents. We report here on the hymenopteran parasitoids reared duringthis period, which were identified using a combination of morphology and COIDNA barcoding, and provide images, a key to species, and contextual informationto facilitate future research. Twelve species of parasitoids from five families ofHymenoptera are formally reported as parasitising S. frugiperda in Australia. Fivespecies are here described as new: Chelonus patbat Fagan-Jeffries, sp. nov.(Braconidae), Chelonus trojanus Fagan-Jeffries, sp. nov. (Braconidae), Coccygidiummellosiheroine Atkin-Zaldivar & Fagan-Jeffries, sp. nov. (Braconidae), Coccygidiumnecatrix Atkin-Zaldivar & Fagan-Jeffries, sp. nov. (Braconidae), and Euplectrus frugi-perdata Fagan-Jeffries, sp. nov. (Eulophidae).