Releases of the parasitic wasp Anagyrus kamali (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in the field to control the Pink Mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and preliminary results on efficacy
1998
Morais, M. (International Institute of Biological Control (Trinidad and Tobago). Caribbean and Latin American Station (IIBC-CLAS))
The parasitic wasp Anagyrus kamali was imported into Trinidad to control the Pink Mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus. Out of an initial shipment of approximately 1,500 fertile females, 600 were released in 12 sleeve cages on infested hibiscus plants in urban areas to determine the ability of the wasp to survive under semi-natural conditions in Trinidad and also to further augment the numbers of the wasps. The wasp bred very well in the sleeves with the initial 50 females per cage producing between 150 and 500 individuals of both sexes. These were later released both in the laboratory for mass rearing and directly in the field at five sites. The reduction in the numbers of the various stages of mealybugs were recorded. Initial results indicate that the wasp has the potential to significantly reduce the populations of the pest.
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