Advances in the control of rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros in oil palm

Oryctes rhinoceros is an important pest attacking young oil palms in South-east Asia. In Malaysia, in addition to well-known breeding sites it is able to multiply in shredded chipped old oil palm trunk material in replant areas, also in empty fruit bunches. The aggregation pheromone ethyl 4-methyloctanoate is produced by males of O. rhinoceros (also by the similar pest O. monoceros in Africa), and is used in traps as an important component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and in ecological studies. In Malaysia, the incidence of endemic entomopathogens can be increased. The fungus Metarhizium anisopliae is available for use as a biopesticide against immature stages in breeding sites and may be distributed by adults. The molecular and ultrastructure of Oryctes Nudivirus (OrNV) has been extensively studied. It kills larvae and is disseminated by adults. New PCR techniques may enable reliable estimates of the quantity of virions in experimental dosages ingested and hence of the virulence of different isolates. It is possible one isolate when released may out compete another.12 page(s

Long-term reduction in damage by rhinoceros beetle Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) to coconut palms at Oryctes Nudivirus release sites on Viti Levu, Fiji

In 1972 to 1973 the non-endemic Oryctes Nudivirus (OrNV) was established at three sites on Viti Levu, Fiji, where the introduced rhinoceros beetle Oryctes rhinoceros was causing heavy damage to coconut crowns and frequently killing the palms. The establishment of OrNV, and its dissemination by adults, was followed by a marked reduction in the beetle population and damage. When re-surveyed 35 years later, damage was still at a low level. It is postulated that Oryctes Nudivirus is still helping to lower damage and manage O. rhinoceros populations at those sites.4 page(s

Biology and management of palm dynastid beetles : recent advances

Coconut, oil, and date palms are important crops in the tropics and are attacked by dynastids that cause loss of production or death of hosts. Knowledge of their breeding sites has been extended since a previous review in 1980. The fungus Metarhizium anisopliae has potential as a biopesticide against immature stages in friable breeding sites. The molecular biology and ultrastructure of Oryctes rhinoceros Nudivirus (OrNV), disseminated by adults, have been studied, and this pathogen can reduce O. rhinoceros populations and damage when introduced into new locations, especially where damage had been high. New PCR techniques may enable reliable quantification of dosages ingested and hence virulence of different isolates. Male-produced aggregation pheromones have been identified in several species, for which they may have management potential, having been used commercially for trapping O. rhinoceros in oil palm plantations in Southeast Asia, and tested against O. monoceros in Africa.20 page(s

Date palm production and pest management challenges

Date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, is a monocotyledonous species belonging to the palm family (Arecaceae or Palmae) which is perennial and dioecious and cultivated mostly in the arid regions of the world. Date palm is important to the agrarian economy of several countries, with the ability to withstand severe abiotic stresses prevalent in the world’s arid regions, including hot and dry climatic conditions, water stress and salinity. A recent report on the arthropod fauna of date palm lists 112 species of insects and mites associated with it worldwide, including 22 species attacking stored dates. In several date producing countries, the monoculture type of date palm cultivation, climate change, unrestrained use of chemical insecticides and extensive international trade is likely to impact the pest complex and its natural enemies in the date agroecosystems. Considering the significance of date palm, we summarize the biology and sustainable management of major insect and mite pests addressing related challenges and future research areas. The emerging role of semiochemicals in date palm IPM is described including new strategies in mating disruption, “attract-and-kill” and “push-pull” technologies. Also phytoplasma diseases and their insect vectors are discussed, besides innovative methods for managing storage pests of dates.11 page(s

Dynastid beetle pests

Two main species of dynastid or rhinoceros beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Tribe Oryctini) Oryctes elegans, and subspecies of Oryctes agamemnon, attack date palms causing significant and documented damage. Adults of O. elegans bore into the stalks of inflorescences and fruit bunches to feed, and oviposit in leaf axils where the larvae develop and may invade the trunk. Oryctes agamemnon larvae bore into frond bases, the trunk, and respiratory roots where their tunnelling may cause the palm to fall. It is difficult to distinguish the larvae of the two species in regions where both coexist. For control, annual servicing of palms includes cutting off old fronds at their bases using the correct technique which enables removal of larvae and their breeding places, and this may be integrated with light trapping for catching adults. Quarantine measures may hinder the spread of these pests to uninfested areas. In India, adults of a third species, O. rhinoceros, have been noted boring into the soft tissue of the growing point, and this species has also been reported from Yemen. Pheromone trapping is available for O. elegans but for effectiveness it requires the addition of fresh date palm tissue to the traps as a synergist. The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae and the nematode Rhabditis sp. may have potential in integrated pest management but their possible natural occurrence in an area should be determined, prior to propagation and release. The pathogenic Oryctes Nudivirus, was successful against Oryctes rhinoceros in lowering its populations and damage to coconut palms when introduced into areas where this virus did not previously exist, and should be tested against date palm dynastids. Oryctes agamemnon and O. elegans adults attacking date palms do not appear to bore into the heart or meristem causing V-cuts to unfurling fronds or the death of the palm, in contrast to attacks by O. rhinoceros on coconut and young oil palms. Also O. rhinoceros larvae are found only in dead decomposing wood or other organic material, whereas larvae of date palm pests O. elegans and O. agamemnon may tunnel in living tissues.36 page(s

Resistance to commonly used insecticides and phosphine fumigant in red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) in Pakistan.

The red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) is an important pest of date palms in many regions of the world. This paper reports the first survey of insecticide resistance in field populations of R. ferrugineus in Pakistan which were collected from seven date palm growing areas across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) provinces, Pakistan. The resistance was assessed by the diet incorporation method against the formulated commonly used chemical insecticides profenophos, imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, spinosad, lambda-cyhalothrin and a fumigant phosphine. Elevated levels of resistance were recorded for cypermethrin, deltamethrin and phosphine after a long history of insecticide use in Pakistan. Resistance Ratios (RRs) were 63- to 79-fold for phosphine, 16- to 74-fold for cypermethrin, 13- to 58-fold for deltamethrin, 2.6- to 44-fold for profenophos, 3- to 24-fold for chlorpyrifos, 2- to 12-fold for lambda-cyhalothrin and 1- to 10-fold for spinosad compared to a susceptible control line. Resistant R. ferrugineus populations were mainly found in southern Punjab and to some extent in KPK. The populations from Bahawalpur, Vehari, Layyah and Dera Ghazi Khan were most resistant to chemical insecticides, while all populations exhibited high levels of resistance to phosphine. Of the eight agents tested, lower LC50 and LC90 values were recorded for spinosad and lambda-cyhalothrin. These results suggest that spinosad and lambda-cyhalothrin exhibit unique modes of action and given their better environmental profile, these two insecticides could be used in insecticide rotation or assist in phasing out the use of older insecticides. A changed pattern of both insecticides can be used sensibly be recommended without evidence of dose rates and frequencies used

Resistance to commonly used insecticides and phosphine against susceptible strains and field collected populations of <i>R</i>. <i>ferrugineus</i>.

<p>Resistance to commonly used insecticides and phosphine against susceptible strains and field collected populations of <i>R</i>. <i>ferrugineus</i>.</p

Resistance ratios (RR) of chemical insecticides and phosphine gas against a susceptible lab strain and field collected populations of <i>R</i>. <i>ferrugineus</i> from various localities in Punjab and KPK, Pakistan.

<p>Resistance ratios (RR) of chemical insecticides and phosphine gas against a susceptible lab strain and field collected populations of <i>R</i>. <i>ferrugineus</i> from various localities in Punjab and KPK, Pakistan.</p

Location of seven sampling sites for <i>R</i>. <i>ferrugineus</i> field populations in Punjab and KPK, Pakistan 1: Bahawalpur; 2: Rahim Yar Khan; 3: Vehari; 4: Dera Ghazi Khan; 5: Muzaffargarh; 6: Layyah; 7: Dera Ismail Khan.

<p>Location of seven sampling sites for <i>R</i>. <i>ferrugineus</i> field populations in Punjab and KPK, Pakistan 1: Bahawalpur; 2: Rahim Yar Khan; 3: Vehari; 4: Dera Ghazi Khan; 5: Muzaffargarh; 6: Layyah; 7: Dera Ismail Khan.</p