APPLICATIONS OF SUGAR SOLUTIONS TO MAIZE, AND THE IMPACT OF NATURAL ENEMIES ON FALL ARMYWORM

Natural enemy abundance and impact on fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugip erda (J. E. Smith), populations were compared in sugar-treated and wat er-treated maize fields in Honduras. Counts of natural enemy abundance were made immediately after and also 1 week following sugar applicati ons. Higher numbers of natural enemies were found in sugar-treated mai ze than in maize treated with water alone. The most abundant species w ere Solenopsis geminata (F.) (Hymenoptera; Formicidae), Lespesia archi ppivora (Riley) (Diptera; Tachinidae) and Doru taeniatum (Dorhn) (Derm aptera; Forficulidae). Of these species, S. geminata and L. archippivo ra showed consistently higher numbers in sugar-treated maize than in w ater-trated maize. Coccinellids were also consistently concentrated in sugar-treated maize, although they were not as abundant as either S. geminata and L, archippivora. In sugar-treated maize, average leaf are a damaged by fall armyworm was reduced by 35% and average fail armywor m infestation rates were 18% lower. These findings suggest that applic ations of sugar to maize can concentrate natural enemies and that thes e natural enemies reduce fall armyworm populations and damage.