Mango pest under attack

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Authors
Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation
Date
1988
Language
en
Type
News Item
Accessibility
Open Access
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Citation
CTA. 1988. Mango pest under attack. Spore 17. CTA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Permanent link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10568/44952
Internet URL: http://collections.infocollections.org/ukedu/en/d/Jcta17e/
Abstract/Description
A parasitic wasp is coming to the aid of mango farmers in West Africa, where the mango mealybug has become a pest. The mealybug was first considered serious in Ghana and Togo some seven years ago and then infestations began to occur in Benin,...
Notes
A parasitic wasp is coming to the aid of mango farmers in West Africa, where the mango mealybug has become a pest. The mealybug was first considered serious in Ghana and Togo some seven years ago and then infestations began to occur in Benin, Nigeria and Ivory Coast. Scientists went to India where both the mango and the pest originated, to search for predators. Three parasitoids were found and the most promising one was sent to the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control in Britain. After it was checked for its specificity, it was sent to the Togo Plant Protection Department where it was multiplied and later released into four areas covering different climatic zones. At the first release site, near Lome, the mealybug has been virtually eliminated. Within the last few months the parasitoid has been found some 15 km to the north of the release site, so it appears to be spreading. The test will come in the rainy season when the mealybug populations tend to rise. Recently, releases have been made by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria, into Ghana and into areas of Benin. For more details, contact: Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control Imperial College Silwood Park Ascot, Berks UK
Subjects
ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND HEALTH;
Regions
WEST AFRICA; AFRICA
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