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Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

Mulsant, 1853
Arthropoda » Coleoptera » Coccinellidae » Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
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Common name (English)
Mealybug ladybird; Mealybug destroyer
Ηabitat
G5 Anthropogenic woodlands
I2 Parks
I1 Arable
J1 Buildings
X10 Mixed landscapes
X11 Large parks
X22 Non-domestic gardens (small)
X23 Non-domestic gardens (large)
X24 Domestic gardens (urban)
X25 Domestic gardens (rural)

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Establishment status
Established
Establishment status detail

Alien:

First detection year
1954
Impacts
Positive

"In 1954, 800 C. montrouzieri from California were introduced into Cyprus (Greathead 1976). The majority of the beetles were released, but some were kept to start a rearing. Another shipment from California followed in 1956 (Greathead 1976). As no recoveries were made in the field, further introductions of C. montrouzieri were made from Italy (Sicily) in 1966 and from India in 1968. All releases resulted only in temporary establishment, because the beetles did not survive the winter. Overall, the use of C. montrouzieri to control Planococcus citri on Cyprus was considered unsuccessful" (Greathead 1976; Gerber and Schaffner 2016); Feeding on Planococcus citri (Georghiou 1977); Common on the island (Demetriou pers. obs.).

Pathway
1 RELEASE IN NATURE - Biological Control – BC
References

Greathead DJ (1976) A Review of Biological Control in Western and Southern Europe. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux Slough, UK, 182 pp.

Georghiou GP (1977) The insects and mites of Cyprus. With emphasis on species of economic importance to agriculture, forestry, man and domestic animals. Benaki Phytopathological Institute. Kiphissia, Athens Greece 347 pp.

Gerber E, Schaffner U (2016) Chapter 2: European insect biocontrol agents released in Europe. In: Gerber E, Schaffner U (Eds) Review of invertebrate biological control agents introduced into Europe.CABI Switzerland, Rue des Grillons 1, CH-2800 Delémont pp. 118-127.

"UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology"
Joint Service Health Unit
University of Cyprus - Department of Biological Sciences
Darwin Initiative
Akrotiri Environment

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