Neuenschwander, P., Schulthess, F., & Madojemu, E. 1986 [Experimental evaluation of the efficacy of Epidinocarsis lopezi, a parasitoid introduced into Africa against the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti.]. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 42(2): 133-138.

Notes: The potential of the encyrtid Epidinocarsis lopezi to control the pseudococcid Phenacoccus manihoti in the field was investigated near Ibadan, Nigeria, between November and March in 1983-84 and 1984-85. Shoots of cassava plants artificially infested with P. manihoti and contained within open sleeve-cages had infestation rates 7.0-2.3 times lower after two months than shoots from which parasitoids were excluded with netting. On shoots totally devoid of protective netting the infestation rates of P. manihoti were 24.3 and 37.5 times lower than totally protected shoots. In an artificially infested field of cassava, which was treated weekly with carbaryl at 1 kg a.i./ha, parasitism rates were below 10% and the numbers of P. manihoti exceeded 200 per shoot. In an untreated field, the rate of parasitism was 25% and mealybug densities were less than ten per shoot.