Release and recovery ofMetaphycus spp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) imported for the control of the mediterranean black scale,Saissetia Oleae (Olivier), in Israel

During 1972–1976 four species of African encyrtid wasps were introduced into Israel and released against the Mediterranean black scale,Saissetia oleae (Olivier), in citrus and olive groves.Metaphycus helvolus (Compere) andM. aff. stanleyi Compere were recovered in small numbers.M. bartletti Annecke and Mynhardt andM. lounsburyi (Howard), which were found in large numbers on citrus during the release season, seem to be promising for the biological control of the black scale.