Hymenptrous parasitoids as a bioagents for controlling maybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Egypt

Abstract

A wide range of parasitoids are found attacking the mealybug species belonging to families namely Aphelinidae, Encyrtidae, Platygastridae, and Signiphoridae. A list of 26 species of parasitoids were recorded attacking the different species of mealybug; 20 species belong to family Encyrtidae, and one species from Platygastridae are primary parasitoids. The rest of parasitoids (5 species) are secondary parasitoids which belong to the families; Aphelinidae,Encyrtidae, Pteromalidae, Signiphoridae and iInformation about host insects, host plants, distribution, biological notes and role in the biological control for mealybug' parasitoids were recorded in this paper.