Record of Digonogastra sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing diatraea flavipennella (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Alagoas, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study is to document the heretofore unrecorded natural occurrence of the larval parasitoid Digonogastra sp. on Diatraea flavipennella Box, 1931 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in sugarcane fields. The collections were made in the Usina Santa Clotilde area, in Rio Largo municipality, Alagoas State, Brazil. This is the first record of Digonogastra sp. parasitizing caterpillar of D. flavipennella in Brazil. The parasitism rate was found to be 14.06%. The occurrence of this parasitoid indicates potential for natural regulation of that pest in sugarcane crop.