Neuenschwander, P., Haug, T., Ajounu, O., Davis, H., & Akinwumi, B. 1989 Quality requirements in natural enemies used for inoculative release: practical experience from a successful biological control programme.. Journal of Applied Entomology 108(4): 409-420.

Notes: During the past six years, the South American encyrtid Epidinocarsis lopezi has been released on the ground and from the air in about 100 areas in Africa for the biological control of the cassava pest Phenacoccus manihoti. It became established in all release sites and by 1988 was recorded in 18 African countries over 1.5 million km2. Its effectiveness in permanently reducing populations of the pest has been documented. The development of an effective rearing technique for the parasitoid is described. The success of the parasitoid in the biological control of P. manihoti attest to the production of sufficient numbers of high-quality parasitoids. It is concluded that insect and plant studies, technology development and careful supervision contributed to high quality which, in inoculative releases, takes precedence over high numbers.