Anagyrus lopezi is a species of parasitic wasp native to Central America. It is used as biological control agent against the cassava mealybug (Phenacoccus manihoti).
Large-scale deployment of this parasitoid was done in Africa and was successfully achieved in Thailand and several other Southeast Asian countries in 2010.
In 2010, a large number of wasps were airdropped into Thailand to control mealy bug.
In 1980, wasps were used to control mealy bug in cassava fields of west Africa and reduce the pest population by 80âÂÂ90%.