Biological control of pink cassava mealybug,

in Thailand

Amporn Winotai

Plant Protection Research and Development Office

Department of Agriculture, Thailand

Background

• The 1st report of outbreak was made in April, 2008; 120,000 acres found damaged, increase to 500,800 acres in 2010

• What species it is?

• How to keep the pest under control?

4 projects developed

1. Identification of CMB2. Chemical control 3. Biological control4. IPM

Cassava Production during 2009-10

YearHarvesting area (ha)

Total yield (M-ton)

Yield/ha (ton)

2009 1.33 30.90 3.63

2010 1.17 22.01 3.01

Reduction (%)

11.94 28.77 17.08

Chemical control

1. Foliage spraying:Negative side-effect to NEs

2. Soaking of Plant material:

• Thiamethoxam 25%WG (4 gm)

• Thiamethoxam 35%FS (3 ml)

• Imidacloprid 70%WG (4 gm)

• Imidacloprid 60%FS (5 ml)

• Clothianidin 16%SG (30 gm)

Damage occurred in Africa

1. Bunchy top & plant distortion

2. Yield losses up to 80%

3. Lack of plant materials

4. Yield reduction

• Scientific name: Anagyrus lopezi

• Native to South America

• Introduced for BC in Nigeria in 1981

• Successful control occurred in 25 countries in West Africa

Anagyrus lopezi

Male Female

Introduction of A. lopezi

• 500 lopezi wasps were imported to Thailand under cooperation with IITA-Benin on 30 Sept. 09,

• Checking for contamination of other insect & host specificity test

• Small field released and evaluation

Mass rearing on

cassava plants

45 days

25 days11-25 days

7 days

11-25 days

Mass rearing on pumpkins

15 C

Activities done

• Organizing Training Courses

• Establishment of parasitoid mass rearing units under government and private facilities

• Mass produce of lopezi wasps and release in target areas

• 300 pairs/ hectare was recommended

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Infested Areas during 2009 – 2013In

fest

ed a

reas

(A

cre)

Releases of lopezi wasps in July 2010, reduced infested area from 500,800 acres to 161 acres in May 2013

Started releasing lopezi

wasps (July 2010)

• Dr. Gillian Watson, California

Department of Food and Agriculture

• IITA-Benin

• Dr. Peter Neuenschwander

• Dr. Georg Georgen

• TTDI

Acknowledgements