Contribution to the of knowledge of the Noctuidae parasitoid larvae (Lepidoptera) in soybean crops in Tucumán, Argentina

Abstract

A parasitoid complex (Hymenoptera and Diptera) was identified based on larvae of the main defoliating species of soybean crops in Tucumán, Argentina: Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, Rachiplusia nu (Guenée), Pseudoplusia includens (Walter) and Spodoptera eridania (Stoll) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Larvae of these species were collected during two agricultural seasons, 2005/06 and 2006/07. Nine species of Hymenoptera were identified: Copidosoma floridanum (Ashmead) (Encyrtidae), Brachymeria ovata (Say) (Chalcididae), Euplectrus sp. (Eulophidae), Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson), Snellenius sp. (Braconidae), Microcharops sp., Colpotrochia sp., Eiphosoma dentator (Fabricius), and Patroclus sp. (Ichneumonidae). Five species of Diptera were also recorded: Voria ruralis (Fall), Winthemia sp., Chetogena haywardi (Blanchard), Chetogena sp. (Tachinidae) and Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Phoridae). Spodoptera eridania, R. nu and P. includens are reported as new hosts of Eiphosoma dentator, Snellenius sp. and Patroclus sp., respectively. A species of Colpotrochia is cited for the first time in Argentina as parasitoid of S. eridania.