Neodryinus typhlocybae (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae) was introduced near Veneto, Italy in 1987 for biological control of the Nearctic planthopper Metcalfa pruinosa (Say) (Hemiptera: Flatidae). Native to North America, N. typhlocybae is a parasitoid of nymphs of flatid planthoppers. Over the past ten years this parasitoid wasp has been released in more than 600 urban and agricultural areas of Northern and Central Italy. Moreover, since 1996, this dryinid has also been introduced for biological control of M. pruinosa in France, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Croatia. Early studies on the use of dryinids as biological control agents suggested that they would be of little value in controlling the target organisms; however, sixteen years after the first introduction, N. typhlocybae has successfully achieved permanent biological control of M. pruinosa. Further research is needed on the mechanisms employed by N. typhlocybae for locating and recognizing appropriate hosts and the potential impact of this alien parasitoid on native non-target hosts.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Dryinidae Neodryinus typhlocybae
Species 2: Homoptera Flatidae Metcalfa pruinosa
Keywords: biological control, Europe
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