The journey of sustainable citrus farming in agriculture
Mealybug control with parasitic wasp Anagyrus vladimiri
Anagyrus vladimiri is a parasitic wasp belonging to the Encyrtidae family. This parasitic wasp is particularly effective for mealybug control, a common pest affecting various crops.
The natural enemy Anagyrus vladimiri is used for the control of the following pests:
- Citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri)
- Vine mealybug (Planococcus ficus)
The parasitic wasp Anagyrus vladimiri is available at Koppert as Citripar.
Anagyrus vladimiri products
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Best conditions for Anagyrus vladimiri
The parasitic wasp Anagyrus vladimiri is most effective at temperatures around 25°C/77°F. The lowest temperature at which development can occur is 13°C/55°F; the highest temperature is 38°C/100°F. Citripar should be combined with Cryptobug or Cryptobug-L for effective control of the mealybugs.
How to use Anagyrus vladimiri
The parasitic wasp Anagyrus vladimir is available in a bottle (Citripar).
- Remove the label from the bottle according to the instructions
- Hang the bottle in the crop, out of direct sunlight
- Deploy in or near the mealybug colonies
- Leave bottles in the crop for at least two weeks
- Carry out adequate ant control
The dosage of Citripar depends on climate, crop and mealybug density and should always be adjusted to the particular situation. Start introduction preventively or as soon as te first signs of infestation appear. Introduction rates typically range from 0.1-0.5 per m2/release. Releases should be repeated at least 3 times at an interval of 1-2 weeks. Consult a Koppert advisor or a recognized distributor of Koppert products for advice on the best strategy for your situation.
Behaviour of the parasitic wasp Anagyrus vladimiri
The female Anagyrus vladimiri lays its eggs inside the body of the mealybug. Upon hatching, the larvae feed on the internal tissues of the mealybug, gradually consuming it from within. This internal feeding ensures the larval wasps have a constant and protected food source, eventually leading to the death of the host.
Anagyrus vladimiri also engages in host feeding, where the adult female wasp feeds on the body fluids of its mealybug hosts. This behavior serves a dual purpose, including nutritional intake and pre-reproductive conditioning.
Life cycle and appearance of Anagyrus vladimiri
Adults show marked sexual dimorphism: the female is about 1.5-2 mm in length and brown, with distinctive black and white banded antennae. The male is 0.8 mm in length and black in colour. Anagyrus vladimiri is arrhenotokous; virgin females produce male offspring only. The preferred hosts for the parasitic wasp are third instar mealybug nymphs, but females will also readily attack second and fourth instars. The female lays a single egg in each host. Eggs laid in smaller hosts usually produce males. Prior to oviposition, the female parasitic wasp examines the host with its antennae for several seconds, then turns its caudal end towards the mealybug and inserts its ovipositor between the wax filaments on the lateral margins of the host. Oviposition generally lasts about 15-40 seconds. The larva of the parasitic wasp completely consumes the contents of the mealybug, going through five instars before pupating within the mummified skin of its host. The adult emerges through an irregular exit hole gnawed at the posterior end of the mummy. Anagyrus vladimiri has a strong photokinetic response, i.e. the female is strongly attracted to light and is inactive in darkness.
