First record of Cotesia scotti (Valerio and Whitfield, 2009) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) comb. nov. parasitising Spodoptera cosmioides (Walk, 1858) and Spodoptera eridania (Stoll, 1782) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Brazil

Abstract

This is the first report of Cotesia scotti (Valerio and Whitfield) comb. nov. in Brazil, attacking larvae of theblack armyworm, Spodoptera cosmioides, and the southern armyworm, S. eridania. The moth larvae werefound respectively, infesting a protected cropping of organic tomato in Hidrolândia, Goiás, Brazil, and atransgenic soybean crop in São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil. Biological, molecular and morphologicalcharacters were used to confirm the identity of the specimens. Parasitoid identification presented achallenge since the species has most diagnostic characters of the genus Cotesia Cameron, but few inthe poorly defined genus Parapanteles Ashmead. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, wetransfer Parapanteles scotti to the genus Cotesia. The new combination is discussed by comparison withmorphologically similar species and available molecular data.