Preliminary Study of Predation Effectiveness of the Assassin Bug Rhynocoris rapax Stal (Heteroptra: Reduviidae) on Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a Major Pest of Maize Crops

Maize is a staple food in many sub-Saharan African countries, grown on large surfaces and with high production. However, maize’s cultivation is often confronted with attacks by the fall armyworm, which considerably reduces production. Thus, the use of biological agents in the control of the fall armyworm would contribute effectively to the sustainability of agriculture. It is in this context that this study, conducted at the La Mé station of the National Centre for Agronomy Research, aims to test the effectiveness of Rhynocoris rapax, a powerful predator of various insect families, on the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda, for biological control of this maize pest in C？te d’Ivoire. Therefore, 3 batches of 1 adult individuals of Rhynocoris rapax were captured in trial plots set up at the La Mé station. These individuals were then put in contact with 3 batches of 5, 20 and 40 larvae of the pest in rearing boxes at an average temperature of 26.4°C and an average relative humidity of 60%, in order to evaluate the efficiency of the predation. The results showed that Rhynocoris rapax kills more larvae when these are in large numbers. The mortality of the high number of larvae was observed during the first three days, probably due to the voracity and aggressiveness of Rhynocoris rapax that period. So R. rapax is a potential predator of fall armyworm and should be protected.