''Anagyrus lopezi'' is a
species of
parasitic wasp native to
Central America. It is used as
biological control agent
Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also invo ...
against the
cassava mealybug
Mealybugs are insects in the family (biology), family Pseudococcidae, unarmored scale insects found in moist, warm habitats. Many species are considered pest (animal), pests as they feed on plant juices of greenhouse plants, house plants and sub ...
(''
Phenacoccus manihoti
''Phenacoccus manihoti'' is a mealybug insect species.
In the early 1970s, the cassava mealybug ''P. manihoti'' was accidentally introduced to Africa.Neuenschwander, P., et al,. 1990. Biological Control of the cassava mealybug ''Phenacoccus mani ...
'').
Large-scale deployment of this
parasitoid
In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host (biology), host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionarily stable str ...
was done in Africa and was successfully achieved in
Thailand and several other Southeast Asian countries in 2010.
In 2010, huge number (lakhs) of wasp were airdropped in Thailand to control mealy bug and the results were amazing.
In 1980 also these wasp were used to control mealy bug in cassava fields of west Africa and reduces pest population by 80–90%.
External links
References
Encyrtidae
Insects described in 1964
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