Encyrtid Parasitoids

Encyrtidae (Superfamily – Chalcidoidea; Order – Hymenoptera) is the most speciose family of parasitoid wasps. Presently, it includes 456 genera and 3826 species placed in 2 subfamilies, i.e., Encyrtinae and Tetracneminae. They are distributed worldwide and ubiquitous in all habitats. Encyrtids are extremely important biocontrol agents of insect species from order Hemiptera, particularly mealybugs and scales insects, though eggs or larvae of other host species from Blattaria, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera and Orthoptera are also attacked. The important genera in the family Encyrtidae include Apoanagyrus, Anagyrus, Aenasius, Comperiella, Ooencyrtus and Hunterellus, Leptomastix, Leptomastidea, Gyranusoidea, Coccidoxenoides and Acerophagus. The encrytids have been widely recognised in various biocontrol programs against mealybugs worldwide. The most successful example is the biological management of cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero by parasitoid, Apoanagyrus (Epidinocarsis) lopezi De Santis in African countries. In India, significant success has been achieved through classical biocontrol of papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink using three exotic parasitoids imported with the help of USDA-APHIS namely Acerophagous papaya Noyes and Schauff, Anagyrus loecki Noyes and Menezes and Pseudleptomastix mexicana Noyes and Schauff. Another encyrtid parasitoid, Aenasius arizonensis (Girault) (=Aenasius bambawalei Hayat) has played a key role in checking the menace of solenopsis mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley on cotton crop. The taxonomy, basic characteristics, biology and life cycle of encyrtids have been summarised in this chapter. Furthermore, the diversity of the encyrtid parasitoids, their utilizationutilisation potential and mass multiplication procedures have also been dealt with. As well, the case studies of encyrtid wasps as biological control agents of insect pests are described.