BEET ARMYWORM (SPODOPTERA-EXIGUA) AS A HOST FOR THE ECTOPARASITIC NEMATODE, NOCTUIDONEMA GUYANENSE

The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) , is an economically important pest in the southeastern United States. An ectoparasitic nematode, Noctuidonema guyanense Remillet and Silvai n (Nematoda: Acugutturidae), naturally attacks the adult stage of seve ral Spodoptera species, but not the beet armyworm. We assessed the sui tability of the beet armyworm as a host for N. guyanense in the labora tory. Nematodes of variable developmental stages were transferred from feral fall armyworm, S. frugiperda (J. E. Smith), moths to beet armyw orm moths in the laboratory to test whether the latter species is a su itable host for N. guyanense. Nematodes transferred to moths of the be et armyworm became established, multiplied, and transferred to new hos ts on which they reproduced as infested hosts mated. Our results confi rm that the beet armyworm is a suitable experimental host for N. guyan ense, and that it should be pursued as a candidate for inoculative and augmentative biological control studies in the field.