Cassava, an important tuber crop in southern and northeastern India, came under threat in April 2020 when the South American cassava mealybug (Phenacoccus manihoti) was detected in Kerala and soon spread through Tamil Nadu's Salem-Namakkal belt, where it disrupted the sago and starch industry. Native parasitoids proved ineffective, even harming the pest's natural predators. ICAR-NBAIR responded by introducing the host-specific parasitoid Anagyrus lopezi, mirroring successful biocontrol efforts in Africa and Southeast Asia. Field releases have since restored yields to 30-35 tonnes/hectare and delivered major economic gains, offering a sustainable, low-pesticide model for managing this invasive pest.