Description
Target Pest: Vine Mealybug, Citrus Mealybug, Obscure Mealybug, and Longtail Mealybug
: Anagyrus is a solitary parasitoid wasp of mealybugs from the family Encyrtidae of the Mediterranean origin. Adults show marked sexual dimorphism: the female is about 1.5-2mm in length and brown, with distinctive black and white banded antennae. The male is smaller (0.8-‐0.9 mm in length), black in color bearing an arch-like pair of antennae. The other stages of development occur inside the host.
Use as Biological Control: Anagyrus is a well-known parasitoid of Planococcus spp. and Pseudococcus spp. mealybugs in greenhouses as well as field and fruit crops worldwide. Anagyrus is ideal for mealybug pests on grapes and citrus. Optimum conditions are 51‐96°F (11-‐36°C). Anagyrus feed on pests that are in their 3rd and 4th instars or as egg-laying adults.
Monitoring Tips: Effectiveness of Anagyrus can be noticed if there is a reduction in the number of pests. Also, the scale insect cadavers with an exit hole can be found on plants.
Life Cycle: Anagyrus populations are 50‐60% female, with an average of 45 eggs per female. Under laboratory conditions, maturation takes 17‐18 days at 80°F (27C°) and 50% humidity. Females live 40 days and males live 30 days with weekly feeding. They survive 14 days on one feeding. There are 20-24 generations per year.
Adult parasitic wasps parasitize citrus mealybug larvae. The pupa swells and hardens into a yellow brown mummy, with residual units of waon the exterior. After development (1- 5 days, depending upon the ambient temperature), the adult Anagyrus emerge through an irregular exit hole at the posterior end of the mummy. The first mummies should be seen in your crop in about 3 weeks after introduction.
Anagyrus wasps start mating and searching for suitable hosts such as third instar larvae or adult mealybugs right after they emerge.
Product Information: Anagyrus pseudococci are shipped as adults.
Release Instructions: Anagyrus should be released upon arrival. For best results, they should be release in the early morning after temperatures have risen above 45°F (7°C), but while they are still below 95°F (35°C). To release Anagyrus, leave container open and on its side in a tree or other crop, or walk through infested area and gently waive the container 2-3 times for a more rapid release.
For use in greenhouses or interiorscapes, release Anagyrus at dusk or when windows are covered so that the parasite finds infested plants quicker. If storage is necessary, keep parasites in an insulated cooler with wet newspaper and ice packs.
For Best Results: Start releasing Anagyrus at the first signs of mealybugs. This is usually in late winter or early spring after mealybug leaves the bark. It is also important to control ant population where Anagyrus is present because ants disrupt the ability of the parasites to oviposit. Pesticides, wetting agents and spreader stickers have adverse effects on the survival of Anagyrus.
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