CAB Reviews 2013 8, No. 005 Review Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mulsant) (Coccinellidae: Scymninae): a review of biology, ecology, and use in biological control with particular reference to potential impact on non-target organisms Moses T.K. Kairol*, Oulimathe Paraiso2, Ram Das Gautam3 and Dorothy D. Peterkin4 Address: 1 School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, Suite 3055, Richard A. Hazel Hall, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA. 2 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL, USA. 3 Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. 4 CABI, Gordon Street, Curepe, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. *Correspondence: Moses Kairo. E-mail:
[email protected] Received: 6 July 2012 Accepted: 19 November 2012 doi: 10.1079/PAVSNNR20138005 The electronic version of this article is the definitive one. It is located here: http://www.cabi.org/cabreviews g CAB International 2013 (Online ISSN 1749-8848) Abstract Over the years, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has been used in both classical and augmentative biological control programmes. The ladybird is also considered important in certain conservation biological control programmes. This paper provides a critical review of the literature pertaining to its biology, ecology and use, with a particular emphasis on potential impact on non-target organisms. C. montrouzieri has many of the attributes of an effective natural enemy, including a rapid development rate, high reproductive potential, good adaptation to a range of tropical and subtropical climates, high prey consumption rates by both adults and larvae and ease of rearing. The coccinellid has been introduced into at least 64 countries/territories to control more than 16 pest species.