First observations on the parasitoids associated with lepidoperous pests of cotton in Burkina Faso

A study was conducted in Burkina Faso from 1991 to 1994 on the parasitoids associated with the following lepidopterous pests of cotton: #Helicoverpa armigera# (Hübner), #Earias# spp., #Diparopsis waters# (Rothschild), #Spodoptera littoralis# (Boisduval), #Syllepte derogata# (F.) and #Anomis flava# (F.). Thirty-nine primary parasitoid species and ten secondary parasitoid species were collected. The mean annuel parasitism rates were lower than 20%, except for #S. derogata# pupae (42.9%). Maximum weekly parasitism rates could be high, with 61.5% recorded for #S. derogata# pupae and 32.9% for #H. armigera# larvae. The highest parasitism rates were found for #Meteorus laphygmarum# Brues (Braconidae) on #H. armigera#, #Xanthopimpla aliena# Krieger (Ichneumonidae), #Brachymeria olethria# (Waterston) and #B. citrea# (Steffan) (Chalcididae) on #S. derogata#, #Aleiodes dedivus# (Szépligeti), #Dolichogenidea sp#. (Braconidae) and #Brachymeria feae# Masi on #Earias spp#., an unidentified Tachinidae on #A. flava# and #Metopius discolor# Tosquinet (Ichneumonidae) on #S. littoralis#. Secondary parasitoids are mainly associated with #Apanteles# spp. (Braconidae) which parasitize #S. derogata# larvae. Some species of these secondary parasitoids such as #Nesolynx phaeosoma# (Waterston), #Pedobius amaurocoelus# (Waterston) (Eulophidae) and #Aphanogmus fijiensis# (Ferrière) (Ceraphronidae) may also attack certain Braconidae or Chalcididae that are primary parasitoids of other lepidopterous pests.