Anagyrus lopezi

Anagyrus lopezi
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Encyrtidae
Genus:	Anagyrus
Species:	A. lopezi
Binomial name
Anagyrus lopezi De Santis, 1964
Synonyms
Epidinocarsis lopezi, Apoanagyrus lopezi(De Santis, 1964)

Anagyrus lopezi is a species of parasitic wasp native to Central America. It is used as biological control agent against the cassava mealybug ( Phenacoccus manihoti ).

The release of the parasitic wasp Anagyrus Lopezi, at a ceremony organised and hosted by the Thai Department of Agriculture in the country's northeastern Khon Kaen province.

Large-scale deployment of this ^[1] parasitoid was done in Africa ^[2] and was successfully achieved in Thailand and several other Southeast Asian countries in 2010. ^{[3] [4]}

In 2010, a large number of wasps were airdropped into Thailand to control mealy bug.

In 1980, wasps were used to control mealy bug in cassava fields of west Africa and reduce the pest population by 80–90%.

External links

"African wasps let loose to save cassava". Bangkok Post.

References

1. T. W. Fisher; Thomas S. Bellows; L. E. Caltagirone; D. L. Dahlsten; Carl B. Huffaker; G. Gordh (1999). Handbook of Biological Control: Principles and Applications of Biological Control. Elsevier. p. 800. ISBN   9780080533018.
2. Parasite Rex: Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures (2001) ISBN   0-7432-0011-X
3. "Scientists mount a 'sting operation' in Thailand to tackle a devastating pest outbreak". Physorg.com. 2010-07-16. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-16. Thailand's Department of Agriculture is expected to officially start the release of Anagyrus lopezi (the wasp's scientific name) as a form of biological control in the country's northeastern province of Khon Kaen....
4. "Insektenplage in Thailand: "Killerkommando" auf dem Weg". n-tv (in German). 2010-07-16. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-16.