Biological Control of Egyptian Mealybug, Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) Infesting Agave Cactus, Agave americana by Releasing Parasitoid Anagyrus pseudococci

Current study aimed to evaluate the management of Egyptian Mealybug, Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) infesting Agave Cactus, Agave americana L. (Fam.: Agavaceae) through releasing different levels of parasitoid Anagyrus pseudococci (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Experiments were conducted on Agave Cactus during 2022 at two different areas (governorates), Al-Zohrya park (Cairo Governorate) and Antoniadis park (Alexandria Governorate) . Three levels of the parasitoid A. pseudococci were released at both of the two successive zones; 25 egg /plant, 50egg /plant and 75egg /plant. Results obtained show that in Al-Zohrya park in the 1 st level of the parasitoid releasing (25egg /plant) the percentage of reduction (%) in the mean number of the successive insect I. aegyptiaca increased gradually whereas it was 23, 34, 44, 54 and 61% on first-March, mid-March, first-April, mid-April, first-May and mid-May respectively. Also, in the 2 nd level of the parasitoid releasing (50eggs/plant) the percentage of reduction % in the mean number of I. aegyptiaca were increased gradually to reach to; 26, 38, 47, 57 and 69% respectively in the same times. Lastly, in the 3 rd level of the parasitoid releasing (75 eggs/plant) the percentage of reduction % in the mean number of I. aegyptiaca increased gradually to reach to; 29, 40, 52, 61 and 70 % respectively in the same times. Results were in the same trend in Antoniadis park.