FNZ 17 - Mymaridae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) - Mymarids in biological control
Noyes, JS; Valentine, EW 1989. Mymaridae (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Fauna of New Zealand 17, 100 pages.
(
ISSN 0111-5383 (print),
;
no.
17.
ISBN 0-477-02542-0 (print),
).
Published 28 Apr 1989
ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/References/1D0A405D-6643-42DB-B911-80664BC6F853
Mymarids in Biological Control
Mymarids have proved to be of some value in controlling insect pests in New Zealand. The most notable instance is the use of Anaphes nitens (Girault), first introduced in 1927, in an effort to control the eucalyptus weevil Gonipterus scutellatus Gyll., which was causing severe damage to Eucalyptus species (Miller 1927). This mymarid subsequently became established in both the North and South islands (Clark 1931, Miller et al. 1936), and successfully controlled the weevil (Sweetman 1935, Doull 1955). Another species of mymarid, Anagrus armatus (Ashmead), affords some control of the leafhopper Typhlocyba froggatti Baker, a pest of apple (Dumbleton 1934). Up to 80% of leafhopper eggs may be parasitised by this mymarid (Dumbleton 1937).