González, R.H., El-Heneidy, A.H., Mousa, S.M., Triapitsyn, S.V., Adly, D., Trjapitzin, V.A., & Meyerdirk, D.E. 2003 A survey for pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) and its parasitoids in Egypt, Spain and Morocco.. Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control 13(1/2): 1-5.

Notes: A search for the pink hibiscus mealybug (PHMB), Maconellicoccus hirsutus and its parasitoids were conducted in Egypt, Spain, and Morocco in 2000-01. Ornamental hibiscus host plants were found in abundance in all three countries, however, PHMB was found only in Egypt. Among several parasitoids recovered from PHMB, a gregarious parasitoid, Allotropa sp. near mecrida was by far the most abundant parasitoid attacking PHMB in Egypt. Primary parasitoids made up 94.9% of the total parasitoids emerging while 5.1% were secondary. A potential for a successful introduction of a biological control programme against this pest in California is enhanced by the collaborative efforts of personnel from several agencies: the Plant Protection Institute of Egypt, the University of California at Riverside, CDFA-Biological Control Programme, and USDA-APHIS.