Cassava Mealybug Parasitoid vs Metaphycus Scale Parasitoid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cassava Mealybug Parasitoid | Metaphycus Scale Parasitoid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anagyrus lopezi | Metaphycus helvolus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Encyrtidae | Encyrtidae |
| Size | 1-2 mm | 1-1.5 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Orchards |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Africa, South America (native) | Worldwide (introduced for biocontrol) |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |
Cassava Mealybug Parasitoid
A tiny encyrtid wasp credited with saving Africa's cassava crop from devastating mealybug infestations. It was introduced from South America in the 1980s as a biological control agent.
Did You Know?
Its release across Africa is considered one of the most successful biological control programs in history, saving millions from famine.
Metaphycus Scale Parasitoid
A golden-yellow parasitoid wasp that attacks black scale and other soft scale insects on citrus and olive trees. It is one of the most widely used encyrtids in commercial biological control.
Did You Know?
Adults also feed directly on young scale insects by piercing them with their ovipositor, killing hosts through both parasitism and host-feeding.