Integrated Pest Control for the Prevention of Population Buildup of Rhinoceros Beetle in Young Replants
The coconut rhinoceros beetle is the most injurious pest of coconut. It feed on the bud consisting of developing fronds and inflorescences. Crop loss occurs due to aborted inflorescences. New replants can succumb even to a single attack that is directed at the growing point, and damage is oftentimes irreversible.
To address the need to protect new plants and productive stands of coconut through integrated pest prevention, Aterrado (PCA-DRC) conducted an on-station study on the preventive control of the beetle from 2000 to 2004.
Findings
Log Disposal and Sanitation
- Logs hauling or disposal in one particular area of the farm prevented the development of uncharted potential breeding sites that could be camouflaged by vegetation and unnoticeably become potential source of infestation. Moreover, integrated pest control activities were centralized in that area and debris did not stand in the way of field maintenance.
- Sectioning long logs into shorter manageable lengths made beetle collection easy.
- Burning of leaves and other debris over the logs char them and this delays rotting and prevents the beetles from laying eggs.
Installation of Sawdust Trap Box
- Trap boxes were filled to the rim with decaying sawdust. Initially, 50-100 g green muscardine fungus (GMF)/box were applied at the bottom of the box. Reapplication of GMF was done every 3 months. Likewise, sawdust was recharged every 3 months or when the sawdust has appreciably receded.
- Installing sawdust trap boxes increased the attractiveness of the felled area to the wild beetle population. After feeling, the fermented sap from sawn palms emitted ammonia-like scent that attracted the beetles, which find the breeding media in sawdust trap boxes convenient egg-laying sites. The GMF infected the larva, pupa and adult of the beetle. One-year continuous trapping at the PCA-ZRC resulted in more than 20,000 adult and immature beetles collected from 116 sawdust trap boxes.
Light Trap
- Light trap was installed approximately 100 m from the edge of felled and replanted area. Installing the light traps at the center of the field gives even better results.
- Both mature and juvenile beetles were equally attracted to light and converged towards the light beginning at dusk. The beetles were then unable to fly off and remained on their backs on the concrete floor, thus making collection and monitoring easy.
Sawdust Management
- Onsite chainsaw ripping, the most common procedure for lumber production, was observed to produce substantial amount of sawdust. Heaps of sawdust, 6 in and more, were found habitable by rhinoceros beetle.
The integrated pest control method is simple to implement at the farmer’s level and prevents uncontrolled population buildup of the rhinoceros beetle. It was environmentally safe as no chemicals were used, and most of the organic matter from trunk and other debris were used. However, the 1st month activity would require more or less 15-man and animal-days per hectare to haul off debris, install sawdust trap boxes, burn leaves and slabs, and scatter heaps of sawdust.
Implementation of the technology would only require a short seminar on the methods of control and on the biology and ecology of the rhinoceros beetle.
Source:
PCARRD, 2006. Highlights 2005, Los Banos, Laguna
Organic Farming Information Network
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research
and Development (PCARRD)
©2006