A Wonderful Predator (Cryptolaemus)

Natural enemies like parasitoids, predators and pathogens play a major role in the biological suppression of crop pests. Among the predators, coccinellids are of great importance in checking insects like mealybugs and scale insects etc. The coccinelid Cryptolaemus which is a small genus which has two groups containing a total of seven species. It has been distributed during the past 100 years numbering more than 40 countries. Details about colonization of the predator like stage to be released, time of release, number to be released etc are given. The Australian ladybird beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant is a wonderful predator in controlling the sucking pests particularly mealybugs and soft scales in different crops in many countries are detailed.