Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem and Prorops nasuta Waterston are two bethylid parasitoids obtained from Africa for the biological control of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) in Mexico and Ecuador. Rearing methods and life-cycle studies carried out under controlled conditions are described for both the parasitoids and H. hampei. Scanning electron micrographs are shown of the developmental stages of the parasitoids. Data are given on development times, pre-oviposition period and on the mating and oviposition behaviour of C. stephanoderis.

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An inoculation technique was developed to assay isolates of entomopathogenic fungi, mainly Metarhiziurn spp., against the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria. Both sexes can be used and neither feeding nor maintenance of a high humidity is necessary. Assays were routinely conducted at 35% relative humidity and 30°C. The technique uses a dose of 2-5 pl conidial suspension formulated in vegetable oil, which is applied with a micropipette or an automatic applicator beneath the dorsal pronotal shield of an adult locust 7-10 days post-fledging. The speed of kill i s dose dependent; at a dose of 3.75 x lo5 conidia/g body weight (7.5 x lo5 conidia/insect) chosen as a standard, locusts began dying 4 days post application. Several vegetable oils were suitable as diluents for the conidial suspensions, but neem was toxic to the insects. After inoculation, locusts had to be maintained in individual boxes. If inoculated and uninoculated insects were placed in close proximity immediately after inoculation with an oil suspension of conidia, the uninoculated insects succumbed to infection 2-3 days later than the inoculated ones, indicating transfer of inoculum.

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This chapter describes the biological control of 3 pests of conifers in Africa: the cypress aphid, Cinara cupressivora; the woody adelgid, Pineus boerneri; and the black pine aphid, C. cronartii. The distribution and the biological control agents (such as parasitoids and predators) used for controlling these pests are mentioned.