- Mealybug Parasitic wasps (Anagyrus pseudococci) are currently shipped only to California per the USDA permit
Anagyrus pseudococci are very small parasitic wasps that are currently used as an excellent biological control agent to control different species of mealybugs, Pseudococcus spp. one of the important insect pests of citrus, grapes, ornamentals and greenhouse vegetables.
- - Parasitic wasps, Anagyrus pseudococci can target following species of mealybugs
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- Citrus mealybugs, Planococcus citri
- Grape mealybugs, Pseudococcus maritimus
- Obscure mealybug, Pseudococcus viburni
- Long- tailed mealybug, Pseudococcus longispinus
- + Key factors for Parasitic wasps, Anagyrus pseudococci effectiveness against mealybugs
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- Parasitic wasps, Anagyrus pseudococci wasps are tiny natural parasites of mealybugs.
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Anagyrus pseudococci wasp was first introduced in Califoring in 1934 from Brazil for biological control of citrus mealybugs.
- Each female of Anagyrus pseudococci wasp generally lay one yellow colored egg in the body of each mealybug. Hatched larva is white in color and it develops through five stages inside the body of a mealybug.
- The last stage larva of Anagyrus pseudococci will then pupate in the mummified host. Adults of wasps generally emerge from these pupae and then they cut exit hole in the mummies and emerge out in the garden to seek new host. Females are brownish in color whereas males are black in color.
- Mealybug Parasitic wasps, Anagyrus pseudococci perform better at temperatures between 59 and 96°F (11 and 36°C).
- + How Mealybug Parasitic wasps (Anagyrus pseudococci) are applied in the greenhouses or fields
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- Mealybug Parasitic wasps (Anagyrus pseudococci) are generally shipped as adults.
- When package is arrived and if you are not ready to release wasps in your garden, store packages in a cool place and avoid direct exposure to sunlight.
- It is always better to release these wasps in the field upon their arrival.
- Try to release adult wasps early in the morning when temperature is above 45°F (7°C) or in the evening when temperature below 95°F (35°C) by opening vials and walking slowly in the garden. Adult wasps should escape themselves from the vials.
- As a preventive measure, release mealybug parasitic wasps at the first signs of mealybug incidence in the greenhouses or fields.
- Under favorable environmental conditions and if there is enough food around, these parasites may recycle continuously and help to keep the mealybug population under economic threshold levelin the field.
- + How Mealybug Parasitic wasps (Anagyrus pseudococci) work in the greenhouses or fields
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- Mealybug Parasitic wasps (Anagyrus pseudococci) are generally shipped as adults.
- When adults are released in the field, they will find their host mealybugs and then using their ovipositor each female will lay one egg in the body of each mealybug.
- Wasp eggs will hatch within the mealybug body and hatched young larvae start feeding on the body content of aphid and complete its development within the mealybug body.
- The parasitized mealybugs will survive and feed on plant tissue for a while but eventually they will die when the larvae of Anagyrus pseudococci wasp mature and pupate.
- The dead mealybugs then turn into mummies.
- After 14- 15 days, adult wasps will start emerging from mummies and life cycle continues.
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Anagyrus pseudococci wasps perform better against mealybugs when temperatures are between 59 and 96°F (11 and 36°C).
- + Why you need them
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- they can reduce the crop damage by parasitizing and killing various species of mealybugs, which are responsible for the crop damage
- they can parasitize and kill all different stages of their mealybug hosts
- they are able to actively search for their mealybug hosts and parasitize them
- they can reproduce and continue their life cycle on mealybugs in your garden after first application
- they are commercially available and easy to apply in the greenhouses or fields
- + Why parasitic wasps are safer than traditional pesticides
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- they do not damage plants
- can be used and applied around children and pets
- do not cause any harm to the personnel involved in their production and application
- food products are safe to handle and eat when they are treated with wasps
- they do not harm humans, animals and pollute the environment
- + Research Papers
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- Daane, K.M.; Malakar-Kuenen, R.D. and Walton, V.M. 2004. Temperature-dependent developmentof Anagyrus pseudococci (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) as a parasitoid of the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Biological Control 31: 123- 132.
