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Encarsia
''Encarsia'' is a large genus of minute parasitic wasps of the family Aphelinidae. The genus is very diverse with currently about 400 described species and worldwide distribution. Noyes, J. S. 2003Universal Chalcidoidea database/ref> The number of existing species is expected to be several times higher because many species are still undescribed.Heraty, J. M., et al. (2008) Systematics and Biology of ''Encarsia''. Chapter 4, pp. 71-87 In: Gould, J., et al. (Eds), In: Classical Biological Control of ''Bemisia tabaci'' in the United States. A review of interagency research and implementation. Progress in Biological Control 4. Springer Science and Business Media B. V. 1-343. ''Encarsia'' is a very complex genus, with specimens showing both inter- and intra-specific variations, making morphological classification difficult. The adult wasps, tiny insects about 1 or 2 millimeters in size, are primarily parasitoids of sessile stages of Sternorrhyncha, in particular whiteflies (Aleyrodidae ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Encarsia Perplexa
''Encarsia perplexa'' is a tiny parasitic wasp, a parasitoid of the citrus blackfly, ''Aleurocanthus woglumi'', which is a global pest of citrus trees. It was originally misidentified as ''Encarsia opulenta'', but was recorded as a new species in 1998. It is a native of Asia but has been introduced to many other parts of the world as a means of controlling the citrus blackfly. Distribution This wasp is a native of India and Vietnam.Silvestri F. 1927. Contribuzione alla conoscenza degli Aleurodidae (Insecta: Hemiptera) viventi su citrus in Extremo Oriente e dei loro parasiti. Boll. Lab. Zool. Portici. 21: 1-60. It has been introduced to and has established itself in Barbados, Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, Salvador, Venezuela, the USA (Florida, Texas and Hawaii), Kenya and Oman, for the purpose of controlling citrus blackfly. Description The female is just over one millimetre long with antennae 0.8 millimetre in length. The thorax is straw coloured, the wings are transparent with a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Encarsia Inaron
''Encarsia inaron'' is a parasitoid wasp used in the control of ash whitefly, '' Siphoninus phillyreae''. The ash whitefly is an insect from Europe that feeds on the sap of plants, and which has become a pest in North America. ''E. inaron'' was acquired from Italy and Israel and brought to California in 1989. Appearance ''Encarsia inaron'' are very tiny wasps measuring approximately , thus requiring a magnifying glass for better visibility. Unlike like most wasps, they do not have a stinger A stinger (or sting) is a sharp organ found in various animals (typically insects and other arthropods) capable of injecting venom, usually by piercing the epidermis of another animal. An insect sting is complicated by its introduction of ve .... Males and females can be distinguished based on their body color patterns. Both adult males and females possess black head and eyes and clear wings, but females display a yellow abdomen while males display a black one. Habitat These wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Encarsia Formosa
''Encarsia formosa'' is a species of chalcidoid wasp and a well known parasitoid of greenhouse whitefly, one of the first to be used commercially for biological pest control, from the 1920s. Its use fell with commercial pesticides in the 1940s, but rose again from the 1970s. Description The tiny females (about 0.6 mm long) are black with a yellow abdomen and opalescent wings. The species reproduces asexually via thelytoky induced by Wolbachia infection. Males are produced but are unable to inseminate the females. The adults use the clap and fling flight mechanism often seen in sub-mm insects. Life cycle Females deposit 50-100 eggs individually inside the bodies of nymphs or pupae of the host species. The wasp larvae develop through four instars in about two weeks at optimum temperatures. Parasitized greenhouse whitefly pupae turn black in about 10 days, while parasitized sweet potato whiteflies turn amber brown. Both are easily distinguished from unparasitized host ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Biological Pest Control
Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, whether pest animals such as insects and mites, weeds, or pathogens affecting animals or plants by using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. It can be an important component of integrated pest management (IPM) programs. There are three basic strategies for biological control: classical (importation), where a natural enemy of a pest is introduced in the hope of achieving control; inductive (augmentation), in which a large population of natural enemies are administered for quick pest control; and inoculative (conservation), in which measures are taken to maintain natural enemies through regular reestablishment. Natural enemies of insects play an important part in limiting the densities of potential pests. Biological control agents such as these include predators, parasitoids, pathogens, and com ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
