Parasitoid associated with of Helicoverpa armigera in refuge areas of cotton, in Western Bahia, Brazil/Parasitoides associados com Helicoverpa armigera em areas de refugio de algodao, no Oeste da Bahia, Brasil

Natural biological control is one of the major causes responsible for reduction of pest population in agricultural ecosystem. However, natural biological control importance is usually minimized by not being estimated. This study reports the occurrence of Campoletis sonorensis (Cameron, 1886) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Archytas marmoratus (Townsend, 1915) and Archytas incertus (Macquart, 1851) (Diptera: Tachinidae) associated with Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner, 1809) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The rate of larval parasitism was up to 41% in structured refuge areas of cotton, without chemical control with insecticides. This study strengthens our knowledge relating to parasitoids associated with natural control of H. armigera in the American continent. In addition, it documents the rule that structured refuge areas could play as a source of natural enemies, besides their contribution to production of non-selective populations to Bt technology. Key words: biological control, integrated pest management, natural enemies. O controle biologico natural e um dos principais componentes responsaveis pela reducao populacional de pragas em agroecossistemas. Entretanto, a importancia do controle biologico natural, usualmente, e minimizada devido nao ser estimada. Este estudo documenta a ocorrencia de Campoletis sonorensis (Cameron, 1886) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Archytas marmoratus (Townsend, 1915) e Archytas incertus (Macquart, 1851) (Diptera: Tachinidae) associados a Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner, 1809) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). A taxa de parasitismo larval foi superior a 41% em areas de refugio estruturado de algodao, sem uso de inseticidas quimicos. Este estudo fortalece o conhecimento relacionado com os parasitoides associados ao controle natural de H. armigera no Continente Americano. Adicionalmente, documenta o efeito que areas de refugio estruturado podem desempenhar como fonte de inimigos naturais, alem da sua contribuicao para produzir insetos nao expostos a tecnologia Bt. Palavras-chave: controle biologico, manejo integrado de pragas, inimigos naturais.