Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (395)


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Summary

  • Worldwide distribution. The 'mealybug destroyer'. In Oceania, Australia (native), Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea. Available commercially. Preys on scales, mealybugs and aphids.
  • Eggs laid near prey, larvae with yellowish grey bodies and waxy threads, orange-brown heads and black wing cases. Covered in fine white hairs.
  • Important biocontrol beetle.
  • Natural enemies: wasps, spiders, birds, and ants.
  • Biosecurity: need to assess risk before introduction as it is a generalist.
  • Cultural control: hot water to kill ants: 47°C (note, 49°C kills plants).
  • Management: (i) move adults and larvae to colonies of pests; (ii) use sleeve cages to protect populations initially; (iii) avoid use of organophosphates, carbamates and synthetic pyrethroids; (iv) control ants: (a) stomach poisons (fipronil, Amdro®, borax), (b) growth regulators (methoprene, pyriproxyfen), (c) nerve poisons (bifenthrin, fipronil, imidacloprid). See (http://piat.org.nz/getting-rid-of-ants).

Common Name

Mealybug ladybird, also known by the nickname 'mealybug destroyer'. In Oceania, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea.

Scientific Name

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri


AUTHOR Grahame Jackson & Mani Mua
Information from Swaine G (1971) Agricultural Zoology in Fiji. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. London; and Martin NA (2018) Mealybug ladybird - Cryptolaemus montrouzieri. New Zealand Arthropod Factsheet Series No. 50. (https://nzacfactsheets.landcareresearch.co.nz/factsheet/InterestingInsects/Mealybug-ladybird---Cryptolaemus-montrouzieri.html); and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri. Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptolaemus_montrouzieri); and Cryptoleamus montrouzieri (mealybug destroyer) (2019) CABI Invasive Species Compendium. (https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/16393); and from Pacific Invasive Ant Toolkit. (http://piat.org.nz/index.php?page=getting-rid-of-ants/). Photo 1 Sonya Broughton, Department of Agriculture & Food Western Australia, Bugwood.org. Photo 2 David Cappaert, Bugwood.org. Photo 4 Randy Thaman, University of the South Pacific, Fiji.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project HORT/2016/18: Responding to emerging pest and disease threats to horticulture in the Pacific islands, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Pacific Community.

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