PARASITES AND PREDATORS OF
THE PINK MEALYBUG Maconellicoccus hirsutus
SOURCE: New Pest Response Guidelines - Pink Hibiscus Mealybug
Maconellicoccus hirsutus, USDA-APHIS-PPQ June 1997
Possible parasites or predators whose efficacy under local conditions would need to be tested
against the
PHM are listed here. This list has been taken from the available literature.
Parasites:
Hymenopterous Parasites-
(1). Alamella flava (Encyrtidae) (Mani, 1989) From India.
Of minor importance (Mani, et
al., 1987).
(2). Allotropa citri (Platygasteridae) (Mani, 1989) From
India.
(3). Allotropa sp. nr. japonica
(Platygasteridae) (Mani, 1989) From India. Of minor
importance (Mani, et al., 1987).
(4). Anagyrus sp. (Encyrtidae) (Mani, 1989) From India.
Found to parasitize 19-47
percent of the mealybug on fibre crops. (Mani, 1989)
(5). Anagyrus sp. (Encyrtidae) (Beardsley, 1985) From
Hawaii. Less plentiful than A.
kamali, with which it was associated.
(6). Anagyrus agraensis (Encyrtidae) (Cross &
Noyes, 1995) From the Oriental Region.
Sympatric to A. dactylopii and A. kamali.
(7). Anagyrus dactylopii (Encyrtidae) (Mani, 1989) A
Hong Kong parasitoid (Noyes &
Hayet, 1994) introduced into India from Brazil in 1984 for control of the mealybug
Placoccus citri (Mani, 1994). Found to parasitize up to 70 percent of the third
instar
and adult female of the PHM on grapes. A generation is completed in about 15 days.
Dichlorvos is apparently non-toxic to this parasitoid. (Mani, 1989) Available in the
USA (Acosta, 1996).
(8). Anagyrusfusciventris (Encyrtidae) (Noyes &
Hayat, 1994) An Australian/New
Zealand parasitoid introduced into Hawaii, California, Florida, Bermuda, Trinidad,
Puerto Rico, Ghana, Italy and Israel for control of several mealybugs, (but not the
PHM). It may have been introduced into Hong Kong, where a specimen was reared
from the PHM on Oleander.
(9). Anagyrus greeni (Encyrtidae) (Mani, 1989) From
India.
(10). Anagyrus kamali (Encyrtidae) (Mani, 1989) From
Java. introduced to Egypt and
may have caused a decline in the PHM population, which was parasitized to 66-100 percent. In
many places the mealybug disappeared completely. (Mani, 1989)
Accidently introduced into Hawaii (Beardsley, 1985).
(11). Anagyrus (= Gyranusoidea) mirzai (Encyrtidae)
(Noyes & Hayat, 1994; Mani,
1989) From India. Not a well known parasitoid of this mealybug. Of minor
importance (Mani, et al, 1987).
(12). Anagyrus pseudococci (Encyrtidae) (Noyes &
Hayat, 1994) From Egypt, Saudi
Arabia.
(13). Aphelinus sp. (Aphelinidae) (Mani, 1989) From
India.
(14). Chartocerus sp. nr. walkeri
(Signiphoridae) (Mani, 1989) From India. Of minor
importance (Mani, et al., 1987).
(15). Cheiloneurus sp. (Encyrtidae) (Mani, 1989) From
India.
(16). Erioporus aphelinoides (Aphelinidae) (Mani, 1989)
From India.
(17). Gyranusoidea indica (Encyrtidae) (Meyerdirk, pers.
comm.) Meyerdirk (pers.
comm., 1997) collected this species on PHM from Egypt. It is currently being
reared for release on PHM populations in St. Kitts, West Indies.
(18). Leptomastix phenacocci (Encyrtidae) (Mani, 1989)
From Java. Introduced to
Egypt, but may be hyperparasitized by Achrysopophagus javanicus, A. annulatus
and Eriaporusaphelinoides. (Mani, 1989)
(19). Leptopilina sp. (Eucoilidae) (Mani, 1989) From India.
Of minor importance
(Mani, et al, 1987).
(20). Phanerotoma dentata (Braconidae) (Mani, 1989)
From Egypt.
(21) .Procheiloneurus (Encyrtidae) (Noyes & Hayat,
1994) From Indonesia.
(22). Procheiloneurus javanicus (Encyrtidae) (Noyes
& Hayat, 1994) From Indonesia.
(23). Prochiloneurus = (Achrysopophagus) sp. (Encyrtidae)
(Mani, 1989) From India.
With Anagyrus kamali, said to obtain outstanding control of the mealybug. (Mani,
1989)
(24). Rhopus longiclavatus (Encyrtidae) (Noyes &
Hayat, 1994) From India. May
eventually prove to be synonymous with R. nigriclavus (not listed here).
Predators:
Coleopterous Predators-
(1). Brumus suturalis (Coccinellidae) (Mani, 1989) From
India.
(2). Chrysopa sp. (Coccinellidae) (Mani, et al., 1987)
From India. Three species of this
genus are available in the USA (Hunter, 1994).
(3). Chrysopa scelestes (Coccinellidae) (Rao, et al., 1984)
From India.
(4). Cryptolaemus affinis (Coccinellidae) (Greve &
Ismay, 1983) From Papua New
Guinea.
(5). Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coccinellidae) (Mani,
1989) From France. This predator
was not effective in Egypt, probably due to poor overwintering; but it was effective in
India at the rate of 1000/ha. At 1500 per acre, it gave effective control within 75 days
in vine yards. The predatory larva may eat up to 1500 nymphs of the mealybug during
its development. May be adversely affected by low temperatures. Dichlorvos and
chlorpyriphos are relatively nontoxic to this species. (Mani, 1989) It is established in
the USA and is commercially available (Acosta, 1996).
(6). Hippodamia convergens (Coccinellidae) (Acosta,
1996) From USA. Easily available
predators by mail order. Shipped in the adult stage in quantities depending on the area
to be covered, i.e., 1/4 pt (650 sq ft; 2,300 ladybugs) to 1 gal (10-20 acres; 72,000
ladybugs). Ideal conditions are 61-72 degrees F. May be stored for 1-3 weeks at 35-45
degrees F.
(7). Hyperaspis maindronii (Coccinellidae) (Mani, 1989)
From India. A different species
(H. miles) is available in the USA (Hunter, 1994).
(8). Melanophthalma carinulata (Lathridiidae) (Mani,
1989) From Egypt.
(9). Menochilus sexmaculata (Coccinellidae) (Mani, 1989)
From India.
(10). Nephus regularis (Coccinellidae) (Anon., 1996) From
India.
(11). Oxynychus erythrocephalus (Coccinellidae) (Mani,
1989) From Egypt.
(12). Pullus ? salomonis (Coccinellidae) (Greve &
Ismay, 1983) From India.
(13). Rodolia cardinalis (Coccinellidae) (Mani, 1989) From
Egypt.
(14). Scymnus sp. (Coccinellidae) (Greve & Ismay,
1983) From Papua New Guinea.
(15). Scymnus biverrucata (Coccinellidae) (Mani, 1989)
From Egypt.
(16). Scymnus coccivora (Coccinellidae) (Mani, 1989)
Recommended for control in
India, since Scymnus species can survive at low population levels of PHM and are
not adversely affected by low temperatures. A single predatory larva consumes
about 60-70 mealybug nymphs during a developmental period of about 20 days.
(Mani, 1989) This species has been imported from India to Trinidad and Tobago
and St. Kitts in 1995 and 1996 (Dale Meyerdirk, per. comm.)
(17). Scymnus gratiousus (Coccinellidae) (Mani, 1989)
Reconunended for control in
India, since Scymnus species can survive at low population levels of PHM and is
not adversely affected by low temperatures. (Mani, 1989)
(18). Scymnus nubilus (Coccinellidae) (Mani, 1989) From
India.
(19). Scymnus sp. nr. nubilus (Coccinellidae)
(Mani, 1989) From India.
(20). Scymnus pallidicollis (Coccinellidae) (Mani, 1989)
From India.
(21). Scymnus pyrocheilus (Coccinellidae) (Mani, 1989)
From India.
(22). Scymnus seriacus (Coccinellidae) (Mani, 1989) From
Egypt.
(23). Seticoderus percikanus corylophidae (Coccinellidae)
(Mani, 1989) From Egypt.
Dipterous Predators-
(1). Cacoxenus perpicaux (Drosophilidae) (Mani, 1989)
From India.
(2). Coccodiplosis smithi (Cecidomyiidae) From Papua
New Guinea. (Greve & Ismay, 1983)
(3). Diadiplosia sp. (Cecidomyiidae) (Mani, 1989) From
Egypt.
(4). Diadiplosia indica (Cecidomyiidae) (Mani, 1989)
From India. Larvae eat eggs, nymphs
and gravid females. Eggs are laid loosely on the ovisac of the mealybug. (Misra, 1920)
(5). Triommata coccidivora (Cecidomyiidae) (Mani,
1989) From India.
Hemipteran Predators-
(1). Geocoris tricolor (Coreidae) (Mani, 1989) From
India.
Lepidopterous Predators-
(1). Autoba silicula (Noctuidae) (Mani, 1989) From
India.
(2). Eublemma sp. (Noctuidae) (Mani, 1989) From
Egypt.
(3). Eublemnw geyri (Noctuidae) (Mani, 1989) From
Egypt.
(4). Eublemma sp. nr. trifaciata (Noctuidae)
(Mani, 1989) From India. The caterpillars
are predaceous on the nymphs and females, which they devour avidly, and pupate in
the midst of mealybug colonies, but fall prey to Drosophilid flies in turn. (Misra, 1920)
(5). Spalgis epius (Lycaenidae) (Pushpaveni, et al, 1974)
From India. The caterpillars feed
voraciously on young nymphs of the mealybug. Each full-grown caterpillar is capable
of eating as many as 300 nymphs per day.
Neuropterous Predators-
(1). Brinckochrysa scelestes (Chrysopidae) (Mani, 1989)
From India.
(2). Chrysopa sp. (Chrysopidae) (Mani, 1989) From
India. This genus = Chrysoperla.
(3). Chrysoperla carnea (Chrysopidae) (Mani, 1989) From
Egypt. Available in the USA
(Hunter, 1994)
(4). Chrysoperla sp. From USA. These are available
year-round in any life stage from
suppliers. They are released in the egg stage at the rate of 1,000 eggs per 200 sq ft.
Repeated releases may be necessary. (Acosta, 1996) Three species, including the
above, are listed by Hunter, 1994.
(5). Conwentzia psociformis (Coniopterygidae) (Mani,
1989) From Egypt.
(6). Mallada boninensis (Chrysopidae) (Mani, 1989) From
India.
(7). Sympherobius pygmaeus (Hemerobiidae) (Mani,
1989) From Egypt.
