Acerophagus (genus - parasitoids)

Encyrtidae • Chalcidoidea (parasitoids) • Hymenoptera parasitoids • Beneficials/natural enemies

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paratype of Acerophagus papayae
Author(s): Paul Langlois, USDA APHIS
Source: IPM Images

Acerophagus E.A.Smith, 1880

This genus of encyrtid parasitoids is found mainly in the Americas and includes around 100 species (Universal Chalcidoidea Database, BMNH). They are parasitoids of mealybugs, like species of Phenacoccus or Paracoccus. Several species have been used in classical biological control programs against pest mealybugs.

The adult wasps are minute (~ 1 mm in length) and yellow, with a five-segmented funicle and a three-segmented antennal club.

Synonyms:
Pseudaphycus (see Trjapitzin, 2008)

Type species: Aenasius coccois

Currently, the following species have been entered into the system:

• Acerophagus coccois (parasitoid)
• Acerophagus flavidulus (parasitoid)
• Acerophagus maculipennis (parasitoid)

• Acerophagus malinus (parasitoid)
• Acerophagus papayae (parasitoid)