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Video Q&A ViewAttendees 1

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

10-Minute Paper

P-IE: Biocontrol On-Demand Presentations

Effectiveness of the parasitoid Anagyrus lopezi as a biological control agent of cassava mealybug in Cambodia

On-Demand
On-Demand

    Presenting Author(s)

  • KT

    Keiji Takasu

    Professor
    Kyushu University
    Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan

    • Co-Author(s)

  • LS

    Layheng Sam

    Researcher
    National University of Battambang
    Battambang, Battambang, Cambodia

The parasitoid Anagyrus lopezi was introduced to control cassava mealybug, an invasive pest in Cambodia in 2013. Although the parasitoid’s establishment was confirmed, it is unknown how  this parasitoid controls cassava mealybug population in Cambodia. Therefore, we conducted field surveys at 6 fields in Battambang and Banteay Meanchey, Cambodia to determine effectiveness of the parasitoid A. lopezi as a biological control agent of cassava mealybug during the period from May 2020 to February 2021.  Cassava mealybug was found in only October to February, and the number of nymphs and adults was less than 4 per plant. Parasitism rate of cassava mealybug by the parasitoid Anagyrus lopezi was 20-40%. A hyperparasitoid Prochiloneurus pulchellus was found to attack 10-20 %  of A. lopezi. In Africa, cassava mealybug population is considered to be controlled by rainfall in rainy season and by A. lopezi in dry season. Similarly, cassava mealybug in Cambodia mainly occurs at low density in dry season. Parasitism by A. lopezi was observed in all the fields where cassava mealybug occurred. Although multiple species of hyperparasitoids attack A. lopezi on cassava in Africa, causing high mortality rate of A. lopezi, only P. pulchellus attacked A. lopezi and its hyperparasitism did not seem to cause serious impact on effectiveness of A. lopezi in Cambodia. A laboratory experiment showed that A. lopezi killed cassava mealybug by parasitism and host feeding. Anagyrus lopezi seems to control cassava mealybug population in Cambodia.