Agriculture Business Week

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has discovered new parasitoid insects which could prove to be of great importance in the country’s continuing battle against Brontispa longissima which has previously attacked more than 1.6 million coconut trees nationwide, this is according to PCA Administrator Oscar G. Garin.

“Our research center in the Davao City has identified two indigenous small insects that parasitize Brontispa by laying their eggs in the larva or pupa of the pest” Garin highlighted in the recently concluded Brontispa In-House Evaluation and Action Planning held in Quezon City.

The administrator revealed that the PCA-Davao Reseach Center conducted a Field Release Evaluation where a total of 1,948 parasitoid adults were released in infested barangays in Region XI and parallel laboratory tests.

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A husband and wife team at the Philippine Coconut Authority’s Davao Research Center in Dava City has discovered an indigenous wasp that could help control the spread of the destructive coconut leaf beetle called Brontispa longissima. This is an introduced pest that has wreaked havoc on coconut trees in 255 towns in 44 provinces throughout the country. No less than 1.5 milion coconut trees have been affected by pest as of February 2009.

The two researchers are Ma. Cynthia Gallego and husband Vivencio. Cynthia is the division chief of the Crop Protection Division of the PCA’s research center in Davao City where Vivencio also works as Scientist 1.

The indigenous wasp (still unidentified) has been observed to feed on the pupae of the Brontispa beetle, thus preventing their hatching into adults. The wasp (they call it parasitoid) is now being multiplied and disseminated to coconut producing provinces.

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The Philippine Coconut Authority(PCA) has discovered new parasitoid insects which could help control the dreaded Brontispa longissima which has previously attacked more than 1.6 million coconut trees nationwide. This was announced by PCA administrator Oscar G. Garin.

Brontispa is a beetle that feeds on the emerging leaves of coconut trees, seriously damaging them and making them unproductive. In severe situations, the trees could be killed.

“Our research center in Davao City has identified two indigenous small insects that parasitize Brontispa by laying their eggs in the larva or pupa of the pest,” Garin said during the recent Brontispa in-house evaluation and action planning session held at the PCA in Quezon City.

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The Philippine Coconut Authority(PCA) is optimistic that the invasive coconut pest Brontispa  logissima or coconut leaf beetle(CLB) can be controlled before year ends.

After it entered the country, Brontispa is now considered as a serious pest that ravages coconut and ornamental palms in the Philippines and Asia Pacific. It affects the palm when both the larvae and adults of the beetle inhabit the developing spears where they feed on leaf tissues but spare the harder veins and midribs. They cause decay and drying of affected parts which prevent the tree from bearing fruits. When the infestation reaches the pith, the palm eventually dies.

The eggs of Brontispa are difficult to detect because they are inserted in between leaflets, that’s why there is a need for thorough inspection of planting materials intended for transport to uninfested areas.

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