The number, external morphology, and distribution of antennal sensilla of Zamagiria dixolopella Dyar were determined by light and scanning electron m

Chemical control is the main method used to combat fall armyworm in maize crops. However, its indiscriminate use usually leads to a more complex scenario characterized by loss of its effectiveness due to the development of resistance of the insect pest, emergence of secondary pests, and reduction of the populations of natural enemies. For this reason, efforts to develop strategies for agroecological pest management such as Push–Pull are increasingly growing. In this context, the present study was carried out to evaluate field effectiveness of Push–Pull systems for S. frugiperda management in maize crops in Morelos, Mexico. In a randomized block experiment, the incidence and severity of S. frugiperda, the development and yield of maize were evaluated in nine Push–Pull systems and a maize monoculture. The Push–Pull systems presented incidence/severity values lower than those of the monoculture. Morphological development and maize yield in the latter were lower than those of most Push–Pull systems. Mombasa—D. ambrosioides, Mulato II—T. erecta, Mulato II—C. juncea, Tanzania—T. erecta and Tanzania—D. ambrosioides systems presented higher yields than those of monocultures.

The role of the chemical cues during the host-finding behavior of neonate Estigmene acrea (Drury) larvae was studied in the laboratory using olfactometer bioassays. Three host plant species of E. acrea were used in the experiments: soybean, Glycine max L. Merr.; tomato, Lycopersicum esculentum Miller; and maize, Zea mays L. The number of larvae showing an attraction toward the leaf volatiles of individual test plants was significantly higher than toward the control air in single-choice olfactometer bioassays. In dual-choice tests, larvae showed a clear preference for the volatiles from soybean over the volatiles from maize and tomato leaves. In contrast, larvae did not show any preference for the maize and tomato volatiles. The locomotory behavior of larvae was clearly affected by hexanic and methanolic soybean extracts. Larvae spent more time walking and walked more distance on the zones containing soybean extracts than on the zones treated with maize and tomato extracts and control solvents. The feeding preference tests revealed that larvae prefer feeding on soybean over maize and tomato foliages.