Abd-Rabou, S. 2000 Parasitoids attacking Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on sugarcane in Egypt.. Sugarcane Pest Management in the New Millennium. 4th Sugarcane Entomology Workshop International Society of Sugar Cane International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Indooroopilly, Australia 104 pp.
Notes: Sugarcane mealybug, Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell), exerts drastic effects on sugarcane plants and is considered one of the most important pests attacking this plant in Egypt. The present work includes a survey of the parasitoids of this pest and their abundance in locations affected by it. The survey of S. sacchari parasitoids and hyperparasitoids took place during June 1998-June 1999. Nine parasitoids and hyperparasitoids were recorded. These are Anagyrus greeni Howard, A. pseudococci (Girault), Chartocerus subaenus (Foerster), Leptomastidea abnormis (Girault), Microterys sp., Paraphaenaodiscus sp., Prochiloneurus sp., Rhopus nigriclavus (Girault) and Rhopus sp. Abundance of these species was evaluated at three localities in Egypt. L. abnormis was the dominant parasitoid, showing maximum parasitism rates of 14 and 21% during October 1998 in Assiut and Qena governorates, respectively, while at the third locality it was not active. From these results, it is clear that there is an urgent need for introduction of other effective parasitoids from abroad to achieve effective control of this pest.