Others have noted cybocephalids acting as a natural control of diverse species of

armored scales, including at least eight species in Turkey (Erler and Tung 2001), coconut

scale (Aspidiotus destructor (Signoret)) in Brazil (Lima 2002), and the brown apricot

scale (Lecanium corni Bouche) and San Jose scale (Quadraspidiotusperniciosus

(Comstock)) (Heintz 2001) in California. However, in Mauritius the native Cybocephalus

mollis Endr6dy-Younga seemed unable to control the spread of the sugarcane scale,

Aulacaspis tegalensis (Zhnt.), even when in conjunction with three other natural enemies

of the scale (Williams and Greathead 1973).

 Because many scale insects persist year-round, it is important that a biological

control agent be found that is also persistent throughout the year. The cybocephalids are

uniquely suited for this in that the placement of eggs and subsequent development of

larvae beneath the armored scale allow them some protection from both the elements and

pesticides (Alvarez and Van Driesche 1998a). In Greece, Katsoyannos (1984) found that

Cybocephalusfodori Endrody-Younga was able to survive in pesticide-treated fruit

orchards. In date palm plantations in Israel, Kehat et al. (1974) found that while all

coccinellids in a chemically treated plantation died, species of Cybocephalus survived.

 The dietary needs of cybocephalids also make them good candidates for use as

biological control agents. Alvarez and Van Driesche (1998a) found that at low scale

densities cybocephalids were able to maintain their populations and keep euonymus and

San Jose scale populations in check. In the case of C. nipponicus, an average of 19.5

scales were attacked over the entire larval lifetime, contrasted with an average of 199

green scales (Ceroplastesjaponicus Green) consumed by the coccinellid Chilocorus

kuwanae Silvestri (Xia et al. 1986). Thickness of the scale cover is also a factor in