Parasitoids and Pathogens of Soybean Looper and Velvetbean Caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Soybeans in Louisiana

Abstract

Parasitoids and pathogens of soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), and velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, were studied on soybean at three locations in Louisiana during the summers of 1984 and 1985. Nine species of primary parasitoids and one hyperparasitoid were collected from soybean looper larvae and pupae. Meteorus autographae Ashmead was the predominant parasitoid (13.5%) collected during 1984, and Copidosoma truncatellum (Dalman) was predominant (15.9%) in 1985. Total parasitism during 1984 was 34.1%, while parasitism in 1985 was 27.5%. Three entomopathogens, Nomurea rileyi (Farlow) Samson, Entomophthora gammae (Weiser), and a nuclear polyhedrosis virus were collected from soybean looper. Parasitism of velvetbean caterpillar was only 4.5 and 0.7% in 1984 and 1985, respectively, with the most common parasitoid both years being M. autographae. N. rileyi caused mortality of 10.9 and 14.7% during 1984 and 1985, respectively.