natural enemies mealybugs
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Anagyrus fusciventris parasitic wasp against longtailed mealybug
Appearance: There is a clear difference between males and females within this species. Females are grey-brown in colour and have bright blue eyes. The proximal part of their antennae is clearly widened. Males are black. Both sexes are about 3 mm. in size. Mealybugs that are parasitized turn into small cocoons, a little darker in colour than alive mealybugs. The young full-grown parasitoid emerges through an exit hole at the distal part of the cocoon, leaving the lid behind. Effect/Activity: Anagyrus can be used effectively against the longtailed mealybug (Pseudococcus longispinus). It prefers larger instars for parasitization. Females lay one egg per host; from each parasitized mealybug one adult wasp will emerge. Conditions: The lower temperature threshold for Anagyrus is 18ºC. Anagyrus is effective at low as well as high humidity levels. Best time to use is March till October. Biology: Parasitoid development from egg to adult takes about 3 weeks at a temperature of 25°C. Full development of the parasitoid is inside the mealybug. Adult parasitoids feed themselves by piercing young instars of the mealybugs and sucking from their bodies. By doing this they can extend their lifespan to about 2 months. This feeding behaviour kills the young mealybug-instars. Application: ANAGYRUS FUSCIVENTRIS can be used in interior landscapes, research greenhouses, botanical gardens, nurseries with ornamental plants and zoo's. |
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Cryptolaemus montrouzieri coccinellid predator of mealybugs
Appearance: Adult beetles are 3-4 mm in size, black with an orange head. Larvae are covered with long white wax filaments. At first sight they very closely resemble mealybugs. However, Cryptolaemus larvae move faster and are more fluffy in their appearance. Pupae look very much the same as larvae, somewhat larger and somewhat more fluffy. Females lay their eggs within egg masses of the mealybug. Compared to mealybug eggs the Cryptolaemus eggs are more bright and somewhat larger. Adult beetles as well as their larvae prey upon all instars of mealybugs. After consumption a white-fluffy dead structure remains visible on the plants. Effect/Activity: Cryptolaemus preys upon several species of mealybugs, i.e.. citrus mealybug and vine mealybug. In the absence of mealybugs they will eat soft scales as well. Feeding capacity of the larvae is to about a maximum of 30 mealybugs per day. Cryptolaemus can be very effective in cleaning hot spots of infestations. Against longtailed mealybug Cryptolaemus is less effective due to the lack of egg masses in this mealybug species. Introduction of larvae will work against this mealybug. Conditions: Cryptolaemus is less effective when temperature is below 20°C or at low humidity levels (<40% RH). Cryptolaemus prefers a warm and humid climate. Biology: Egg to adult development takes about 30 days at a temperature of 25°C. During her lifespan a female can lay up to 400 eggs. The eggs are deposited within the egg masses of the mealybugs. Larvae will eat each other whenever food availability is poor. For pupation larvae will go to a hidden place, i.e. underneath the edge of a container. Application: CRYTOLAEMUS MONTROUZIERI can be used in interior landscapes, zoo's, botanical gardens, research greenhouses and nurseries with ornamental plants. In (sub)tropical regions it can be used outdoors as well. |
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Leptomastidea abnormis parasitic wasp against citrus mealybug
Appearance: Leptomastidea abnormis is a grey-yellow parasitic wasp, 0,75-1,5 mm in size. Its wings are held in an angle of 90° with regard to the body; dark bands are clearly visible across the wings. Males are smaller than females and have hairy antennae. Females have a bright band across the abdomen. Parasitized mealybugs turn into a yellow/orange cocoon and become hard (like mummies). These mummies are difficult to see, because of their small size. Leptomastidea emerges from a circular hole in the proximal end of the mummy. Effect/Activity: Leptomastidea abnormis mainly parasitizes the citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri). Eggs are laid in the first en second instars of its host, one egg per mealybug. Mealybugs are killed by the larva of the parasitic wasp, growing inside the mealybug. Conditions: Leptomastidea can survive temperatures up to 40ºC, but the optimal temperature for its activity is 26ºC. Below 15ºC L. abnormis is less active. At high and at low temperatures Leptomastidea survives better than Leptomastix dactylopii. L.abnormis is not very critical towards humidity. Biology: Leptomastidea grows up from egg to adult inside the mealybug. At 25ºC this development takes about 3,5 weeks. Adults can live for 3-4 weeks. A female lays 40-50 eggs a week. Most of them are laid in the first and second week of the female's live. Application: LEPTOMASTIDEA ABNORMIS can be used in interior landscapes, zoo's, botanical gardens, research greenhouses, nurseries with ornamental plants as well as outdoors in (sub) tropical regions. |
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Leptomastix dactylopii parasitic wasp against citrus mealybug
Appearance: Leptomastix dactylopii is a small yellow/brown-coloured parasitic wasp with distinctively long dark antennae. It is about 3 mm long. Males are smaller and darker than females. The antennae of the females are bended, the antennae of the males are hairy. Leptomastix dactylopii parasitizes the older instars of the citrus mealybug. Parasitized mealybugs turn into a yellow-brown cocoon and become hard (like mummies). Leptomastix emerges from a circular hole in the proximal end of the mummy. Effect/Activity: Leptomastix dactylopii mainly parasitizes the citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri). Eggs are laid in the third instar and in the young adult female mealybug. Females deposit one egg inside the mealybug body. After hatching the young larva of the parasitoid eats the mealybug from inside out. Mealybugs are killed by the growing larva of the parasitic wasp. Conditions: The lower temperature threshold for Leptomastix dactylopii is 20ºC, but the optimal temperature is 26ºC. Leptomastix is effective at lower as well as higher humidity levels. Biology: Leptomastix grows up from egg to adult inside the mealybug. At 25ºC this development takes about 15-17 days. A female lays about 100 eggs. Most of the eggs are laid in the first week of the female's live. Weather a female or a male wasp emerges from a mealybug depends on the size of the mealybug; small mealybugs often result in a male. Adult wasps can live for 3-4 weeks. They feed themselves by piercing mealybugs and sucking body fluids from them (host-feeding). They also feed themselves with honeydew. Application: LEPTOMASTIX DACTYLOPII can be used in interior landscapes, zoo's, botanical gardens, research greenhouses, nurseries with ornamental plants as well as outdoors in (sub) tropical regions. |
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Leptomastix epona parasitic wasp against Pseudococcus affinis and Spilococcus cactearum
Appearance: Adult wasps are brown-black with thin, long, black antennae. Their wings are mainly translucent with slight dark bands. Feet and mouthparts are yellow. Leptomastix epona is 3 mm in size. Mealybugs that are parasitized turn into yellow cocoon like 'mummies', easily distinguishable from alive mealybugs. The adult Leptomastix emerges from a circular exit hole at the proximal end of the cocoon, leaving a 'lid' on the mummy. Effect/Activity: Leptomastix epona mainly parasitizes older instars of Pseudococcus viburni (= Pseudococcus affinis) and Spilococcus cactearum. It lays one egg per mealybug. Mealybugs are killed by the growing larva approximately 10 days after parasitation. Conditions: Lower temperature threshold for Leptomastix epona is 15°C. Day length and light intensity are important prerequisites for a successful introduction. Best time to use is March till October. L. epona is effective at low as well as high humidity levels. Biology: Larvae of Leptomastix epona grow up inside the mealybug. At 25ºC development from egg to adult takes about 3 weeks. Application: LEPTOMASTIX EPONA can be used in zoo's, interior landscapes and botanical gardens. |
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Nephus includens coccinellid predator of Citrus mealybugf
Appearance:Adult beetles are dark, they have 4 orange / yellow spots on their backs. They are about 2 mm. The larvae are covered with white waxy filaments are very similar to mealybugs. The beetle larvae are fluffier and run faster. Dolls are very similar to larvae, they are slightly larger and fluffier. Larvae are often little in the crop because they are very small and often in egg mass of mealy bug found. The eggs are oval shaped, yellow and very small, they are the egg masses laid by the mealy bug, but in practice not visible. Both adult beetles and larvae eat mealybugs. When a mealybug is eaten, remains a dead tree on white fluffy. Effect/Activity: Nephus operation is a predator of various types of mealybugs, but has a preference for citrus. The larvae mainly eat eggs and young mealybugs. They can be up to about 100 eggs per day or 50 young mealybugs eat. If Nephus once in a greenhouse located long he remains active and is particularly well placed to start to fight mealy bug infestation. Conditions: Beetle and larvae are most active in hot conditions, optimum temperature is around 25 º C. Below 18 ° C and low humidity Nephus less effective. Biology: Development from egg to adult beetle takes at 25 º C ± 30 days. Adult beetles can live for up to 4 months if they find enough to eat. Eggs in the egg mass laid by the mealybug. A female can during her lifetime from 300 to 400 eggs. She does it mainly in the first months of her life. Pupation takes place among emptied egg mass of mealy bug. Application: NEPHUS INCLUDENS can be used in zoo's, interior landscapes and botanical gardens. |
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Pseudaphycus maculipennis parasitic wasp against the obscure mealybug
Appearance: The adult Pseudaphycus is grey in colour and about 2 mm in length. The antennae are short with a white tip. Most of the adults are females. Parasitized mealybugs turn into yellowish, irregularly shaped cocoons with some dark spots. Pseudaphycus emerges from the parasitized mealybug through several small holes. Effect/Activity: Pseudaphycus is effective in controlling the obscure mealybug Pseudococcus affinis(= Pseudococcus viburni). In a short period of time Pseudaphycus is able to build up a population and is able to stay in the field at low pest densities. Pseudaphycus is most effective against older stages of the mealybug. The number of eggs deposited per mealybug depends on the size of the host, the bigger the host the higher the number of eggs. Up to 7 new adult parasitoids can emerge from one host. Conditions: The lower temperature threshold for Pseudaphycus is 20ºC. It requires sufficient and strong light. Best time to release is from March till October. Biology: Pseudaphycus grows up from egg to adult inside the mealybug. At 25º the development takes about 3 weeks. A Pseudaphycus female can deposit 3-7 eggs per mealybug; the number depends on the size of the mealybug. The adult parasitic wasps feeds itself with honeydew and lives for about 40 days. In this period a female can lay about 80 eggs, most of them in the first weeks of her life. Application: PSEUDPHYCUS MACULIPENNIS can be used in zoo's, interior landscapes and botanical gardens. |
