Improved effects of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus integrated with Campoletis chlorideae against H. armigera and impact of the virus on the parasitoid

Abstract BACKGROUND Combined use can be an effective measure to improve pest control by viruses and parasitic wasps. However, not all combinations of natural enemies show improved effects. Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) and Campoletis chlorideae Uchida are two important natural enemies of Helicoverpa armigera . This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of C. chlorideae and HearNPV against H. armigera larvae and the impact of HearNPV on C. chlorideae . RESULTS The combination of HearNPV and C. chlorideae exerted increased mortality on H. armigera when C. chlorideae parasitized larvae one day after infection with HearNPV. C. chlorideae could distinguish between HearNPV‐infected and noninfected larvae. Besides influencing host selection of C. chlorideae , HearNPV infection had negative effects on the development and reproduction of C. chlorideae . The developmental time of C. chlorideae was significantly prolonged and the percentage of emergence and adult eclosion of C. chlorideae was lower in infected hosts. The adult wasps were also smaller in body size, and female adults had fewer eggs when they developed in virus‐infected hosts. CONCLUSIONS HearNPV combined with C. chlorideae could improve the efficacy of biological control against H. armigera . The results provided valuable information on the importance of timing in the combined use of HearNPV and C. chlorideae for the biological control of H. armigera . © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.