Tracing the distribution of natural enemies of non-native invasive eucalypt insect pests in sub-Saharan Africa

Eucalypt forestry in sub-Saharan Africa is challenged by non-native eucalypt-feeding insects. In recent studies, six invasive eucalypt insect pests, namely Blastopsylla occidentalis, Glycaspis brimblecombei, Gonipterus sp.n.2, Leptocybe invasa, Thaumastocoris peregrinus and Ophelimus maskelli were confirmed present Africa. We investigated the diversity distribution of natural enemies these pests countries region. Plant parts (leaves, petioles stem) infested with sampled from multiple sites each country. The emerged identified using morphological characteristics DNA sequence data. Nine species surveyed countries, Anaphes nitens, Closterocerus chamaeleon, Megastigmus sp., M. pretorianensis, Psyllaephagus blastopsyllae, P. bliteus, Quadrastichus mendeli, Selitrichodes kryceri S. neseri. No found Ghana Sierra Leone despite presence L. invasa both those countries. Interestingly, most unintentionally introduced into Results this study showed that one country are likely to affect many other These findings call for a more coordinated approach management plantation