Biological control in French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique.

Abstract

Abstract Several biological control agents have been introduced successfully in French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique: three tachinid dipterans and one hymenopteran for control of sugarcane borers, a ladybird and a hymenopteran parasitoid against the pink hibiscus mealybug, a hymenopteran parasitoid to control Asian citrus psyllid, another hymenopteran parasitoid against citrus blackfly and a hymenopteran parasitoid for control of fruit flies. Mass rearings of a lacewing and a Trichogramma egg parasitoid are being implemented in Martinique for augmentative biocontrol. Use of native natural enemies in conservation biocontrol projects is being initiated in several crops, after a period of intensive prospecting for natural enemies. A project started recently in French Guiana aims to control the mango mealybug by introducing two exotic parasitoids.