Temperature and Humidity Effects on Noctuidonema (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae), an Ectoparasite of Adult Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and Transfer Success during Host Mating

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Abstract
The effect of humidity and temperature on development and population growth of Noctuidonema guyanense Remillet & Silvain, an ectoparasitic nematode of adult Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) and related moths, was examined using S. frugiperda as the host. N. guyanense was held under low (20%) and high (80%) relative humidity levels, and constant temperature regimes ranging from 7 to 37°C in five degree increments. The population increased by 13- to 16-fold under high humidity, and the nematodes survived the low humidity. Development and population growth were optimal at 32°C. The proportion of nematodes falling off the host was negligible. The nematodes easily transferred to a new host when the moths mated. Many of the transferred nematodes were adults. All attempts to culture N. guyanense on artificial media or fungi were unsuccessful.