Florida Entomologist (1996) 79, 296-302

John R. Ruberson and James B. Whitfield (1996)
Facultative egg-larval parasitism of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) by Cotesia marginiventris (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
Florida Entomologist 79 (3), 296-302
Abstract: The braconid parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) has long been known to be a larval parasitoid of numerous lepidopteran species. Recent field observations, however, indicated that C. marginiventris is also capable of functioning as an egg-larval parasitoid of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner). These field observations were corroborated by laboratory observations, demonstrating that C. marginiventris is capable of ovipositing in S. exigua eggs, and of successfully developing and emerging from host larvae hatching from stung eggs. The mechanisms used by the parasitoids to locate host egg masses in the field were not determined. These results lend support to phylogenetic hypotheses of the Braconidae that indicate a close relationship between the Cheloninae and the microgastroid taxa.
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Database assignments for author(s): John Ruberson, James B. Whitfield

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Spodoptera exigua	Cotton (Gossypium)	U.S.A. (SE)
Cotesia marginiventris (parasitoid)	Spodoptera exigua	Cotton (Gossypium)	U.S.A. (SE)
Chelonus insularis (parasitoid)	Spodoptera exigua	Cotton (Gossypium)	U.S.A. (SE)