Erkılıç, L.B., & Demirbas, H. 2008 Large scale biological control of citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso) (Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) in Turkey.. Proceedings of the XI International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies, Oeiras, Portugal, 24-27 September 2007. ISA Press Lisbon, Portugal 322 pp.

Notes: The usage and acceptability of biological control methods are set to increase in agriculture in the future because of issues associated with food safety and pesticide residues. The implementation of biological control in Turkey started with the control of cottony cushion scale lcerya purchasi Mask. (Coccoidea: Margarodidae) through the introduction and release of Rodolia cardinalis (Muls.) (CoI.: Coccinellidae) in citrus plantations. Currently, the main large-scale biological control is being applied to the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso) (Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae). The other major citrus pests, such as the citrus rust mite, Phyllocoptruta oleivora Ashm. (Acarina: Eriophyidae) and the Californian red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Mask.) (Coccoidea: Diaspididae) can be suppressed by using a specific acaricide and summer oil applications respectively and these are in harmony with biological control. As a major pest, the citrus mealybug infests approximately 100 000 ha on the Eastern and Western Mediterranean coasts of Turkey. Until now, biological control for citrus mealybug has been implemented on only 3000 ha (3.5 %) of the total citrus growing area. However, this small-scale use of biological control in relation to the size of infested area is set to change as public awareness causes biological control to be implemented over a wider area in the future.