Flies from Puerto Rico

Gampaha group corr

A species of flies known as parasitoids will be brought from Puerto Rico to control the spread of mealy bug Parasitoid’s or Pitimakuna on papaw and vegetable plantations.

The program to bring the parasitoids is funded by the United States Agriculture Department. According to Head of Division of Entomology, Horticultural Crops Research and Development Institute Indra Wahundeniya this is the first time that the mealy bug has affected papaw and vegetable cultivations in Sri Lanka.

The best control method is perusetoids as tried out in many countries. These insects are known to lay eggs on cultivations affected by the mealy bug and have a four stage life cycle. Once the life cycle is complete, the mealy bug will reduce in numbers.

Fifty thousand parasitoids brought down will be kept in laboratories to multiply and others released to badly affected areas in the island.