GPAS Technical Leaflet ‘This leaflet is for restricted circulation to GPAS' clients and customers only. For more information or clarification, please contact GPAS at the addlress listed at the end of the leaflet. COMMON LEAF EATING PESTS OF OIL PALM AND THEIR CONTROL. June, 2006 GPAS TL No.1/1 Introduction Leaf eating insects such as bagworms and nettle caterpillars are potentially serious pests tool palm. Severe defoliation by bagworms or nettle caterpillars can result in crop losses in excess of 40 — 50% in two subsequent years. ‘The Pest, Bagworms are the larvae of moths of the family Psychidae. The common species attacking oil palm are Metisa plana (Picture 1), Pteroma pendula (Picture 2) & Mahasena corbetti (Picture 3). Picture 1 Metisa plana Picture 2 Pteroma pendula Mahasena corbetti Nettle caterpillars are a group of sluggish- moving caterpillars with stinging spines. The common species of nettle caterpillars are Darna trima (Picture 4), Setora nitens (Picture 5), Setothosea asigna and Darna diducta, Picture 4 Darna trima Reproduced by kind permission of Dr J.D.Holloway/”The Moths of Borneo” vol.3 Picture § ‘Setora nitensDamage ‘Young larvae of bagworms scrape the epider- mis of leaflets (Picture 6) while older larvae chew through the leaves making holes at the leaves, Necrosis of leaf tissue sets eventually become skeletonised. ind leaves Young nettle caterpillar larvae scrape st epidermis while mature larvae eat the whole leaf blade starting from the edge and work backwards systematically eating all laminae tissue leaving the midribs (Picture 7). Young bagworm larva scraping the epidermis of leaflet, Picture 7 Damage by nettle caterpillar from the edge of leaflets leaving the midribs. Causes of Outbreaks Severe outbreaks (Picture 8) caused by bagworms and nettle caterpillars are normally associated with extreme changes of climate or prolonged dry weather, extensive weeding and/or destruction of the habitat of the natural predators; and/or the indiscriminate use of broad spectrum insecticides, thus allowing the pest population to increase significantly. Picture 8 Severe damage due to bagworms, vvele of Bagworms & Nettle Caterpillars Knowledge on the life cycles of the pests is very important particularly to decide on the best timing for chemical treatments to be carried out. Information on the life cycles of the major species of bagworms and nettle caterpillars are provided as follows: Stages in Days Bagworms Exp —> lana —> Papa —r Adal —> Eee Metso plana 8 %6 Mm 4 Preroma pendale 7 ar fy 4 Mahasenacorbeni = 10-15-8098 2740 ie Carrion, Serora nites 47 asso Darna wna $7730 ORS Serohaseaasgna 4 68 0 9 early symptoms of leaf defoliation are detected, a pest census should best be carried ‘out fast at 1% level, i.e. 1 palm in 10 and 1 row in 10 to determine the extent of damage (Picture 9), One frond with fresh damage symptoms for the censussed palm should be cut down for recording the number of larvae and pupae on the fronds. Picture 9 us for bagworms / nettle caterpillars.Chemical control must be immediately imple- mented when the pest has reached its critical level: Pest Critical Level Species Critical Level M.corbett S larvae / trond S.nitens x S. asigna 1. bisura = M. plana 10 larvae / frond P. pendula D. trima D. diducta T.vetusta hemical Control i) Tall palm For tall palms (more than 5 years), chemical control by trunk injection (Picture 10a-c recommended. The insecticides commonly used are as follows Monoerataphos 6 apm (10 ml of 6% pradut) Methamidophos —- Szaifalm (10 ml of 5% product) Acephate + T5gaifpalm 10 ml of 5% product) ‘The technique proper includes the drilling of a small hole on the basal stem to accommodate 1010 15 ml of chemical solution, For five to six years old palm, two holes should be drilled. For palms of seven years and above, one hol sufficient. 10 ml of the product should be injected into each palm. If two holes are drilled, each hole is to be injected with 5 ml of the product. ‘The hole should later be sealed with clay to prevent seepage. Procedure of trunk injection (Picture 10a-c): Picture 10a Drilling hole, Picture 10¢ Plugging the hole. ii) Short palm For immature and young palms where trunk injection cannot be performed, spraying with knapsack sprayers or mistblowers are recom- mended using the following insecticides: Bacillus thuringiensis * Trichlorfon 0.1% a.i * Cypermethrin 0.02% a.Cultural Practices As a long term measure to avoid recurrent attacks by leaf eating insects, the planting of beneficial plants such as Cassia cobanensis (Picture 11), Euphorbia heterophylla (Picture 12), Antigonon — leptopus (Picture 13) and Turnera subulata (Picture 14) along road shoulders and vacant areas is strongly recommended. Proper establishment of beneficial plants would prolong the life span of natural‘enemies of the pests (Picture 15) and therefore reducing the chances of pest infestation in the fields. Blanket spraying of ground vegetation should be avoided and soft grasses must be maintained in the interrows to allow for natural equilibrium of the predator and pest population in the micro-ecosystem of the field Picture 11 Cassia cobanensis Picture 12 Euphorbia heterophylla Picture 13 Amtigonon leplopus Picture 14 Turnera subulaia Picture 15 A natural predator (Platynopus melacanthus) attacking a nettle caterpillar Acknowledgement: We would like to thank Dr Tey Chin Chong of Guthrie Research Chemara for his contribu- tions on some of the pictures used in this leaflet. For more information, please contact; Guthrie Plantation & Agricultural Services Sdn Bhd (144603 H) P.O, Box 134, Jalan Sg Ujong 70710 Seremban Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus Tel: 06-7655300, 1655301, 7655302 Pax: 06-7636569 E-mail: gpas@ guthrie.com.