Mealybug-parasitoid
Guides
Aenasius
Aenasius is a genus of solitary endoparasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae. Species within this genus are specialized parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), with documented hosts including the invasive cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis. The genus has been extensively studied for its potential in biological control of agricultural pests, particularly in cotton-growing regions. Some species show remarkable developmental plasticity in response to temperature, enabling them to track their hosts across invaded ranges.
Anagyrus
Anagyrus is a large genus of parasitic wasps in the family Encyrtidae, containing at least 247 described species distributed worldwide. These wasps are specialized parasitoids primarily targeting mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), with several species commercially important for biological control of agricultural pests. The genus includes notable species such as A. pseudococci, A. lopezi, and A. vladimiri, which have been extensively studied and deployed for managing mealybug infestations in crops including cassava, citrus, and grapes. A subgenus, Nesoanagyrus, was established by Beardsley in 1969.
Anagyrus aper
Anagyrus aper is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, described by Noyes & Menezes in 2000. It belongs to the genus Anagyrus, a group of wasps known primarily as parasitoids of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). The species has been recorded from New Hampshire, Ontario, and Texas, suggesting a Nearctic distribution. Like other members of its genus, it likely functions as a biological control agent of pest mealybugs, though specific host associations and biological details remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Anagyrus paralia
Anagyrus paralia is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, described by Noyes and Menezes in 2000. It belongs to the genus Anagyrus, which contains numerous species used in biological control of mealybugs and other scale insects. The specific epithet "paralia" suggests a coastal or shore-associated habitat, though detailed ecological data remain limited. Like other Anagyrus species, it is presumed to be a primary parasitoid of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), but host records specific to this species have not been documented in the available literature.
Anagyrus shahidi
Anagyrus shahidi is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, first described by Hayat in 1979. It belongs to a genus widely used in biological control programs targeting mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). The species has been recorded from India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan), Florida (USA), and Sulawesi Tengah (Indonesia). Like other Anagyrus species, it likely functions as a primary parasitoid of mealybugs, though specific host associations for A. shahidi remain incompletely documented.
Anagyrus trinidadensis
Anagyrus trinidadensis is a small parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, originally described from Trinidad. The species belongs to a genus of significant economic importance for biological control of mealybugs and other scale insects. Like congeners, it likely functions as a primary parasitoid of Pseudococcidae, though specific host records for this species remain limited in the available literature.
Cirrhencyrtus
Cirrhencyrtus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, described by Timberlake in 1918. Species in this genus are known to parasitize mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), with documented associations with Ferrisia virgata and Dysmicoccus brevipes in southern Chiapas, Mexico. The genus is represented in major entomological collections, including the UCR Encyrtidae collection, which holds specimens of C. ehrhorni and C. diversicolor.
Prochiloneurus
Prochiloneurus is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, established by Silvestri in 1915. Species in this genus are primarily known as hyperparasitoids, attacking other parasitoids that develop within mealybugs (Pseudococcidae). The genus has been documented from multiple continents including Africa, Asia, and the Americas, with recent new country records from China. Some species have been studied for their role in biological control systems, particularly in cassava mealybug management where they act as secondary parasitoids of primary parasitoids like Anagyrus lopezi.
Rhopus
Rhopus is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, subfamily Tetracneminae. The genus was established by Förster in 1856. Species within this genus are known to parasitize mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), with documented host associations including Tridiscus sporoboli and Trionymus species. The genus is represented in major entomological collections including the University of California Riverside Encyrtidae holdings, which contains multiple described species.
Signiphoridae
Signiphoridae is a small family of parasitoid wasps in the superfamily Chalcidoidea, containing approximately 80-88 extant species distributed across four genera: Chartocerus, Signiphora, Thysanus, and Clytina. These minute wasps function as both primary parasitoids and hyperparasitoids, primarily associated with scale insects (Diaspididae), mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), and predatory insects that feed on these hemipteran pests. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution with species recorded across multiple continents including Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Recent taxonomic work has described new species from rainforest canopy habitats and documented new distributional records for previously known species.