An initiative that was implemented to combat papaya mealybug has been reaping rewards. A parasitic wasp, which is a natural predator, was introduced in the coastal region as a control mechanism for mealybugs. The tiny wasp has proven to be effective in helping prevent the massive damage of the pest to papaya farms.

KEPHIS is training experts on ways that can be used to detect and manage invasive pests. FAO is also supporting the training of experts and strategies that can help in the early detection and identification of the pest in Eastern African nations to mitigate the effects of mealybugs.

Papaya mealybug is a real pest

Mealybugs are highly destructive pests on any plant that they attack, and papaya mealybugs are no exception. It is a serious sap-sucking insect that was first detected in Africa in 2010 and had been found in Mombasa and Ghana by 2016.

CABI researchers say that the pest is found in nearly half of Kenya, spanning from mangoes to flowers to papaya. According to a study by Kansiime et al. (2020), mealybugs can cause losses of 53–100%. If they infest a papaya garden, smallholder farmers may be forced to abandon the entire farm due to the devastating impact.

However, a tiny wasp could be the game changer and turn the tide on the mealybug invasion. Although the parasitic wasp does not completely kill all mealybugs, it feeds off them and helps in controlling their numbers. Since it has proven to be effective in the coastal counties, CABI and experts from Karlo, Kephis, and the National Museums of Kenya are preparing to introduce the parasitic wasp to fight against the papaya mealybug in Embu, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, and Machakos.

In the future, it is hoped to be released in other counties like Kitui, Meru, Murang’a, Baringo, Busia, and Homabay to cover all 10 major production counties in Kenya.

The papaya parasitic wasp acts as a more classical biological control remedy for mealybugs and reduces the reliance on harmful chemicals. In short, it can be categorized as an integrated pest management strategy.

Tiny wasp thwarts papaya mealybug

So far, CABI has worked with partners to release this wasp in three counties in Kenya, a move that has already revealed some promising results. Within its first year of release, from July 2022 to July 2023, the wasp has established itself well at the release sites in Mombasa, Kwale, and Kilifi. The wasp populations are growing, and there is hope that they will successfully control the papaya mealybug along coastal Kenya.

 

What are some of the measures that have been taken to achieve positive results?

Some of the measures that have been taken to achieve positive results are:

-Extensive surveys and monitoring before and after release to help in assessing the effectiveness of the wasps.

-Small-scale trial releases in the selected areas to test their effectiveness and potential challenges that may be expected in larger releases.

-Coordination and collaboration with partners such as CABI, KARLO, and PEPHIS, who have worked together to identify suitable release sites, conduct surveys, and release the wasps.

-Continuous monitoring and evaluation have helped in tracking the progress and success of the wasp.

 

Conclusion

Overall, the introduction of this tiny wasp is a promising development in the battle against the invasive papaya mealybug. With continuous monitoring and release, there is hope that the natural enemy will significantly reduce the mealybug populations.

Get Started With Frutunda

At Frutunda, we offer certified, high-quality papaya seedlings to help you kickstart your journey into pawpaw farming. Learn more about pawpaw farming and management practices at the Frutunda website. Contact us today to inquire more!

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