Using Egg Parasitoids to Manage Caterpillars in Soybean and Maize: Benefits, Challenges, and Major Recommendations

The use of egg parasitoids in Augmentative Biological Control (ABC) is a highly effective strategy within the integrated pest management (IPM) of lepidopteran defoliators. Safer than chemical insecticides, these natural antagonists have demonstrated significant efficacy. and , known for their high parasitism rates, are the most extensively used and studied parasitoids for controlling economically important lepidopterous in crops such as soybean and maize. Brazil, a leading adopter of crops expressing ( ) proteins, faces growing field-evolved resistance to Cry proteins in soybean and maize. This resistance, particularly of in soybean and in maize, has become more prominent in recent years, increasing insecticide use. Therefore, this article reviews the current status of egg parasitoids adoption in ABC against lepidopteran pests, emphasizing the role of and the potential of as sustainable alternatives to chemical insecticides to manage pests in both non- and crops. Additionally, we provide recommendations for using these parasitoids in ABC programs and discuss the challenges that must be addressed to optimize the adoption of biocontrol agents in ABC programs for maximum benefit.