Chapter 24. Robert F. W. Schroder. 1981. Biological control of Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant, in the United States. Pages 351-360. In: George C. Papavizas, Chairman. Beltsville Symposia in Agriculture Research. Biological Control in Crop Production, Volume 5, 461 pages. A symposium held May 18-21, 1980 at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), Maryland 20705. Organized by the BARC Symposium Committee. Sponsored by BARC, Northeast Region, Science and Education Administration, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Keywords: the Mexican bean beetle attacks soybean in the US, and was an introduced pests, initially all importation of beneficial arthropods failed, introduced were Lydinlydella epilachnae, L. metallica,Pediobius foveolatus, soybeans became the major host during the 1970s, biocontrol before 1970, Mexican bean beetle Epilachna varivestis, its natural enemies did not follow it into the US from Mexico, some indigenous natural enemies attacked it in the US, Doryphorophaga doryphoraee, Nemorilla maculosa, Euphorocera claripennis, Synaldis (Alysiidae), two sarcophagids Helicobia helicis, Boettcheria latistyerna, an a phorid Megaselia, importation of parasitoids from Mexico began in 1921, including Lydinolydella epilachinae, L. metallica, Tetrastichus ovulorum, Pediobius foveolatus, Coccipolipus epilachnae, importation of parasitoids from South America, included two hyperparasitoids Brachymeria carinatifrons, Spilochalcis sp., biocontrol agents collected in India,

Tetrastichus ovulorum, biocontrol since 1970, reintroduction of P. foveolatus, this gave very encouraging results, an introduced ectoparasitic mite Coccipolipus epilachnae, search for natural enemies in Pakistan, this brought three species of egg parasitoids Tetrastichus spp., T. appannai, and four larval/pupal parasitoids Pediobius foveolatus, T. epilachnae, T. sp.