ANAGYRUS SACCHARICOLA TIMBERLAKE (HYMENOPTERA: ENCYRTIDAE) AND OTHER BIOTA ASSOCIATED WITH SACCHARICOCCUS SACCHARI (COCKERELL) (HOMOPTERA: PSEUDOCOCCIDAE) IN AUSTRALIA

Abstract

The encyrtid parasite Anagyrus saccharicola Timberlake was introduced into Australia from Hawaii in 1953 as a biological control agent of Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell), the pink sugarcane mealybug, but was believed not to have become established. However, a recent survey has shown it to be widespread in the principal sugarcane growing areas of Queensland and New South Wales. Other natural enemies of S. sacchari include the fungus Aspergillus parasiticus Spear and the insect predators, Cacoxenus perspicax (Knab), Coccodiplosis sp., Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant and Oplobates woodwardi Gross. S. sacchari was attended by the ants Paratrechina probably vaga (Forel), P. prob. bourbonica (Forel), Camponotus prob. chloroticus Emery, Tetramorium bicarinatum (Nylander), Pheidole megacephala (F.) and Iridomyrmex sp. Copyright © 1987, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved