Biological control of mango mealybug

Natural Allies for Mango Mealybug Control

This technology provides an effective, cost-efficient intervention to protect mango value chains in Africa. The release and establishment of two parasitoid species—Gyranusoidea tebygi and Anagyrus mangicola—has shown a dramatic impact in reducing mango mealybug populations, leading to increased yields and farm income. With research costs already covered, the expansion to new countries requires only modest investments in rearing and monitoring. This intervention aligns with sustainable agriculture goals, reduces pesticide use, and strengthens the resilience of smallholder farming systems.

This technology is pre-validated.

9•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 9/9; level of use 7/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

Adult farmers, especially those engaged in mango production, benefit from increased yields and reduced crop loss. This improves household income and food security.

The poor: Positive high

Poor farming households benefit from a free, sustainable pest control solution that does not require them to purchase pesticides, reducing production costs and increasing returns.

Women: Positive low

Although women are not directly involved in the implementation (managed by national services), they participate in mango harvesting, processing, and selling. The reduction in pest damage supports their economic activities.

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

The parasitoids have successfully established in diverse agroecological zones—from humid coastal areas to subhumid inland zones—demonstrating strong adaptability to varying climates.

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

By reducing dependency on chemical pesticides and increasing mango resilience to pest outbreaks, the technology enhances farmers' capacity to cope with climate-induced pest pressure.

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Supports biodiversity by reducing broad-spectrum pesticide use, allowing beneficial insects and natural ecosystems to thrive.

Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released

No fossil fuel inputs are required for application (no spraying or machinery), making it a low-emission intervention.

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

Improves environmental safety by replacing toxic pesticides with a natural solution, protecting water, soil, and non-target organisms.

Key points to design your program

This biological control technology offers an effective, long-term solution to manage the invasive mango mealybug (Rastrococcus invadens) across Africa. By introducing two specific natural enemies—Gyranusoidea tebygi and Anagyrus mangicola—the method restores ecological balance and strengthens the resilience of mango production systems without relying on chemical pesticides.

The approach contributes directly to Sustainable Development Goals:

SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by safeguarding mango yields and farmer income,
SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by reducing pesticide use, and
SDG 15 (Life on Land) by preserving beneficial insect populations and supporting agroecological practices.

This solution has already proven successful in 18 African countries, where it reduced mealybug populations by up to 95% and delivered significant economic benefits for smallholder farmers. It promotes environmental health, enhances productivity, and supports inclusive agricultural development.

The approach is especially relevant for programs aiming to strengthen resilience in mango value chains, promote environmentally friendly pest control strategies, scale up agroecological practices in fruit production.

Its implementation requires limited investment—mainly for parasitoid importation, rearing, and monitoring—and can be supported through partnerships with IITA, national agricultural services, and regional plant protection bodies.

By adopting this proven and scalable solution, development actors can strengthen mango value chains, reduce ecological harm, and promote long-term sustainability in the fruit sector across Africa.

10000 USD

Starter cultures, rearing and expert guidance

IP

No formal IP rights

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Benin	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Burkina Faso	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Burundi	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Cameroon	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Central African Republic	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Côte d’Ivoire	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Democratic Republic of the Congo	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Gabon	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Gambia	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Guinea	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Rwanda	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Senegal	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Sierra Leone	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Togo	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Uganda	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted