Parasite Swarms Unleashed

            In Thailand, Phenacoccus manihoti mealybugs were found to have been crawling on the end of the country's cassava stems. The Thai Department of Agriculture believe that the mealybugs were accidentally imported to Thailand from Africa stem cuttings in the past few years. Last year in 2009, the mealybugs have been spreaded across more than 700 square miles of eastern and northeastern Thailand. The cassava crop's sap is sucked by the small bugs, causing it to wilt and die. Since the cassava crop's sap is used to make tapioca, the production of tapioca has majorly decreased. For the solution, the decision of releasing parasitic wasp swarms (Anagyrus lopezi wasps) was made. The Anagyrus lopezi wasps inject their eggs directly into the mealybugs' bodies. When the eggs hatch, they act like how parasites should, and they eat their host to get out. Scientists also say that these parasitic swarms sent to attack mealybugs will not harm other species. Some parasite species only attack one or few specific species. Of course, the parasite swarms that are sent won't completely eliminate the mealybugs, but would still make enough of an impact for farmers growing their cassava stems.

            The problem of the cassava stem's sap being sucked away by the Phenacoccus manihoti mealybugs relates to environmental science concepts. The environment filled with cassava stems is being destroyed by the mealybugs as they take food from them. Having much of the environment's cassava stems dying off will end up negatively harming the ecosystem.

            This article is important to us because it deals with a crucial problem of how to save a precious plant. The solution of sending parasitic wasp swarms to save the plants could be used in similar future problems if proven efficient and mostly harmless. It might help end the problems of certain species killing plants.

            http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/07/100719-parasites-wasps-bugs-cassava-thailand-science-environment/