Products| Biological control: beneficial insects and mites | Beneficial insects and mites main menu |
| Leptomastix-System |
| A parasitic wasp to control mealybugs Mealybugs are important pests and are one of the hardest to control. They are known to appear in several crops such as in Cactus, Ficus, Schefflera, Passiflora, Codiaeum, Oleander and in several palm species. They can even be found on tomatoes. |
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The parasitic wasp Leptomastix dactylopii is a very efficient mealybug killer. With its long bent antennae the parasitic wasp searches, mainly by walking, for the third nymphal and adult stages of the mealybug.
Only one egg is laid in the mealybug. From this egg the first larva emerges. During its lifecycle, the parasite goes through 4 larval stages, a pupal stage and adult stage. When the parasite pupates, the mealybug is already dead. Parasitised mealybugs swell and darken in colour.
The result is a dark cocoon covered with light hairs. Then the parasitic wasp makes a small hole in the mealy bug's body to emerge. One parasitic wasp can parasitize 50 up to 100 mealy bugs (ca. 80 eggs a week). The lifecycle takes about 3 weeks at 24°C.
The parasitic wasp Leptomastix dactylopii can only be applied in crops where the citrus mealybug occurs. Hence, recognizing the right species of mealybug is very important. A starting infestation is the perfect situation to introduce Leptomastix. When the infestation is heavy, combine Leptomastix with Cryptolaemus.
Leptomastix is available as adults in small tubes with 100 adults per tube.
Leptomastix-System is best used in combination with Cryptolaemus-System. As Leptomastix has difficulty spreading (mainly by walking), Biobest advises to introduce them directly into mealybug hot spots. Introduce Leptomastix for 3 weekly introductions. The quantity needed depends on the amount of mealy bugs present. When discovering new hot spots, reintroduce the parasite.