Biological control of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti (Hom., Pseudococcidae), by Epidinocarsis lopezi (Hym., Encyrtidae) in Malawi

From 1985 to 1989 five large scale surveys were made to document the spread of the cassava mealybug (CM) Phenacoccus manihoti Matile‐Ferrero (Hom., Pseudococcidae) and the releases and successful establishment of its exotic parasitoid Epidinocarsis lopezi (De Santis) (Hym., Encyrtidae) through most...

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Main Authors: Neuenschwander, Peter, Borowka, R., Phiri, G., Hammans, H., Nyirenda, S., Kapeya, E.H., Gadabu, A.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Informa UK Limited 1991
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/100011
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author Neuenschwander, Peter
Borowka, R.
Phiri, G.
Hammans, H.
Nyirenda, S.
Kapeya, E.H.
Gadabu, A.
author_browse Borowka, R.
Gadabu, A.
Hammans, H.
Kapeya, E.H.
Neuenschwander, Peter
Nyirenda, S.
Phiri, G.
author_facet Neuenschwander, Peter
Borowka, R.
Phiri, G.
Hammans, H.
Nyirenda, S.
Kapeya, E.H.
Gadabu, A.
author_sort Neuenschwander, Peter
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description From 1985 to 1989 five large scale surveys were made to document the spread of the cassava mealybug (CM) Phenacoccus manihoti Matile‐Ferrero (Hom., Pseudococcidae) and the releases and successful establishment of its exotic parasitoid Epidinocarsis lopezi (De Santis) (Hym., Encyrtidae) through most cassava‐growing areas of Malawi. In a multiple regression analysis involving 29 meteorological, agronomic and plant variables from 476 fields, the duration of E. lopezi's presence was the major factor influencing CM population densities. In the first year the CM was recorded in a particular place, 25% of all tips had more than 100 CM. Wherever E. lopezi had been present for two years or more, CM populations were reduced on average seven times and tips infested with more than 100 CM became rare (1%). In parallel, damage on cassava tips stabilized at a low level. Similarly, along Lake Malawi, 84.9% of all tips had more than 10 CM in 1986; this value stabilized at 3.3%‐4.0% in 1988–1989. Indigenous coccinellids were often abundant in the first year of the CM infestation, but their populations collapsed later, while the frequency of fields with E. lopezi increased. In 1987, farmers abandoned 28.4% of all fields where E. lopezi was just introduced as compared with 2.7% where the parasitoid had been present for two years or more. Overall, satisfactory control was achieved by E. lopezi in all but a few fields concentrated on extremely poor soils characterized by sand dune vegetation. The socioeconomic implications of this ongoing and apparently successful biological control program are discussed.
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spelling CGSpace1000112024-05-15T05:12:21Z Biological control of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti (Hom., Pseudococcidae), by Epidinocarsis lopezi (Hym., Encyrtidae) in Malawi Neuenschwander, Peter Borowka, R. Phiri, G. Hammans, H. Nyirenda, S. Kapeya, E.H. Gadabu, A. biological control cassava mealybugs epidinocarsis lopezi From 1985 to 1989 five large scale surveys were made to document the spread of the cassava mealybug (CM) Phenacoccus manihoti Matile‐Ferrero (Hom., Pseudococcidae) and the releases and successful establishment of its exotic parasitoid Epidinocarsis lopezi (De Santis) (Hym., Encyrtidae) through most cassava‐growing areas of Malawi. In a multiple regression analysis involving 29 meteorological, agronomic and plant variables from 476 fields, the duration of E. lopezi's presence was the major factor influencing CM population densities. In the first year the CM was recorded in a particular place, 25% of all tips had more than 100 CM. Wherever E. lopezi had been present for two years or more, CM populations were reduced on average seven times and tips infested with more than 100 CM became rare (1%). In parallel, damage on cassava tips stabilized at a low level. Similarly, along Lake Malawi, 84.9% of all tips had more than 10 CM in 1986; this value stabilized at 3.3%‐4.0% in 1988–1989. Indigenous coccinellids were often abundant in the first year of the CM infestation, but their populations collapsed later, while the frequency of fields with E. lopezi increased. In 1987, farmers abandoned 28.4% of all fields where E. lopezi was just introduced as compared with 2.7% where the parasitoid had been present for two years or more. Overall, satisfactory control was achieved by E. lopezi in all but a few fields concentrated on extremely poor soils characterized by sand dune vegetation. The socioeconomic implications of this ongoing and apparently successful biological control program are discussed. 1991-01 2019-03-03T05:54:44Z 2019-03-03T05:54:44Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/100011 en Limited Access Informa UK Limited Neuenschwander, P., Borowka, R., Phiri, G., Hammans, H., Nyirenda, S., Kapeya, E.H. & Gadabu, A. (1991). Biological control of the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti (Hom., Pseudococcidae) by Epidinocarsis lopezi (Hym., Encyrtidae) in Malawi. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 1(4), 297-310.
spellingShingle biological control
cassava
mealybugs
epidinocarsis lopezi
Neuenschwander, Peter
Borowka, R.
Phiri, G.
Hammans, H.
Nyirenda, S.
Kapeya, E.H.
Gadabu, A.
Biological control of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti (Hom., Pseudococcidae), by Epidinocarsis lopezi (Hym., Encyrtidae) in Malawi
title Biological control of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti (Hom., Pseudococcidae), by Epidinocarsis lopezi (Hym., Encyrtidae) in Malawi
title_full Biological control of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti (Hom., Pseudococcidae), by Epidinocarsis lopezi (Hym., Encyrtidae) in Malawi
title_fullStr Biological control of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti (Hom., Pseudococcidae), by Epidinocarsis lopezi (Hym., Encyrtidae) in Malawi
title_full_unstemmed Biological control of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti (Hom., Pseudococcidae), by Epidinocarsis lopezi (Hym., Encyrtidae) in Malawi
title_short Biological control of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti (Hom., Pseudococcidae), by Epidinocarsis lopezi (Hym., Encyrtidae) in Malawi
title_sort biological control of the cassava mealybug phenacoccus manihoti hom pseudococcidae by epidinocarsis lopezi hym encyrtidae in malawi
topic biological control
cassava
mealybugs
epidinocarsis lopezi
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/100011
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