Occurrence, Abundance, and Efficiency of Some Local Parasitoids Attacking Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Selected Cotton Fields in Israel1

Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval is a severe summer pest of numerous crop plants in Israel. Three of its insect parasitoids in Israel are Microplitis rufiventris Kokuev, Bracon hebetor Say, and Chelonus inanitus (L.). The natural enemies are not species-specific and their action upon the populations of the host is not directly density-dependent. Moreover, it is apparent that at least the first 2 species mentioned have moved on to S. littoralis from other hosts. Consequently the parasitoids are unable to control the pest under existing field conditions in Israel.