Anonymous, N/A 1986a Mass rearing of natural enemies of the cassava mealybug: advanced and appropriate technologies.. Annual report and research highlights (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture) pp. 105-106.

Notes: Two methods are described that have been used in Nigeria for mass rearing the encyrtid parasite Epidinocarsis lopezi on the cassava mealybug [Phenacoccus manihoti] on cassava. One system uses advanced technology for a continuously high and stable production of clean natural enemy populations, as well as for research on rearing techniques. The other system is less complicated and is for use in national biological control programmes where the electric power supply may be irregular or unavailable. In this system, 200 cassava cuttings are grown in an artificial substrate in a vertical pipe, which is irrigated twice daily with a nutrient solution from an overhead tank. The resulting 'cassava tree' is protected by a fine nylon screen, artificially infested with mealybug crawlers, and inoculated with E. lopezi; 7 weeks after planting, about 10000 parasites can be collected at the top of the unit. Rearing takes place out of doors but protected from rain and excessive sun in a tropical climate.