First report of natural infestation of Ovomermis sinensis (Nematoda: Mermithidae) parasitizing fall armyworm Spodoptera sp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Himachal Pradesh, India

Spodoptera frugiperda invaded in India at the end of 2018 and has caused severe damage to maize including other crops. Several S. frugiperda naturally parasitized by nematodes were observed in Nauni, Himachal Pradesh, India. The morphological features based on the results of scanning electron microscopy indicated that the nematode belongs to the family Mermithidae. Furthermore, characters discovered that the nematode belongs to Ovomermis sinensis, a known entomoparasitic nematode. Our finding was the first record that S. frugiperda, was naturally parasitized by O. sinensis. The results of this study are of great importance for potential biological control of S. frugiperda by indigenous natural beneficial organisms, i.e., O. sinensis within an integrated pest management system.