Importation, colonization and establishment of the parasitoid, Encarsia pergandiella Howard (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Per ring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in Egypt

In Egypt for control of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring (Homoptera: Alyerodidae) biologically on different host plants about 250000 individuals of the imported parasitoid, Encarsia pergandiella Howard (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) were released during 2004- 2005 on different host plants. After releasing the parasitoid was evaluated. The average parasitism rates in Demmyate on cotton were 11.4 and 18.2 per cent during 2001 and 2002, respectively. While in Behira on common beans average parasitism was 6 and 10.3 per cent, and in Qalyubiya on cucumber it was 14.5 and 17 per cent during 2004 and 2005, respectively. Significant positive correlation was observed between the population of E. pergandiella and the build-up of the whitefly population all over the three governorates, which indicated the establishment of E. pergandiella parasitoid on these economic crops in Egypt.