The distribution of covert microbial natural enemies of a globally invasive crop pest, fall armyworm, in Africa: Enemy release and spillover events.

Invasive species pose a significant threat to biodiversity and agriculture world-wide. Natural enemies play an important part in controlling pest populations, yet we understand very little about the presence and prevalence of natural enemies during the early invasion stages. Microbial natural enemies of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda are known in its native region, however, they have not yet been identified in Africa where fall armyworm has been an invasive crop pest since 2016.

Evidence of Leaf Consumption Rate Decrease in Fall Armyworm, , Larvae Parasitized by .

Biological control is one of the best options for the sustainable management of the invasive maize pest in Africa. However, there is limited knowledge of the efficacy of native natural enemies of and their potential use in integrated pest management. The endoparasitoid wasp is one of the natural enemies of in Africa.