The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), is a perennial immigrant pest of several crops in south Georgia. Moths of S. frugiperda commonly are infested by an ectoparasitic nematode, Noctuidonema guyanense Remillet and Silvain in the Southeast. The seasonal chronology and natural association of these species are reported for Tift Co. from 1988 to 1994. Seasonal influxes of non-infested moths usually arrive in late April and dissipate in early November. Seasonal influxes of infested male moths follow the initial immigrants by 4 to 6 wks and disappear in the fall from 1 to 2 mos earlier than the general moth populations. Feral male moths that are moderately worn and infested by N. guyanense weigh less than moderately worn, non-infested males. Noctuidonema guyanense infests moths of several species of noctuids, but it has not been found on the cotton bollworm/corn earworm [Helicoverpa zea (Boddie)], tobacco budworm [Heliothis virescens (Fab.)], or beet armyworm [S. exigua (Hubner)].
Author notes
2 Current address: USDA, ARS, Northern Grain Insects Research Laboratory, Rural Route 3, Brookings, SD 57006-9401.
3 Current address: USDA, ARS, Vegetable Research Laboratory, 2875 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29414.