Advances in Plant Protection

(Crop Science 232)

COCONUT PEST: Coconut leaf beetle (Brontispa longissima gestro)
The coconut hispine beetle, brontispa longissima gestro (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae) is
potentially one of the most serious insect pests of coconut and Ornamental palm plants in
southeast Asia. Larvae and adults of the beetle feed on Tissues of unopened leaf buds of the
coconut palm. Infestations of the beetle Turn the leaves brown and decrease fruit production.
Successive severe defoliations 3-2 will lead to death of the tree. Seventeen species of palm trees
including oil Palm, nipa palm and many ornamentals can be attacked. The beetle is believed to
be Endemic to an area which includes Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and was accidentally
introduced into several other countries in the pacific in the 20th century.
However, the pest was not reported from continental Southeast Asian countries until the
late 1990's when it was found in the Mekong delta of Vietnam. Around the Same time, the pest
was introduced into the Maldives. It is suspected that this pest was accidentally introduced into
both countries with a shipment of ornamentals. The Pest has been expanding in areas around
Southeast Asian countries, and it was found in Myanmar in 2004, followed by the Philippines in
2005. First detected in April 2005 in the Philippines at Metro Manila, Roxas Blvd ,Airport Road,
Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga. In September 2006 it was found in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Davao
City and Zamboanga. In 2007, it was observed in Province of Aklan, specifically in the Island of
Boracay and also in the mainland Malay and Buruanga.
The pest seemingly continues to spread further westward, and thus the resion of south
Asia, including India, Sri lanka and Bangladesh, is at great risk of invasion. Since there are a
large Number of coconut industries in these countries, the pest incursion would be catastrophic.
BIOLOGY OF BRONTISPA
Eggs The eggs are brown and flat. They are laid singly or in groups of two to four on the
still-folded heart leaves (Lever, 1979). An egg measures 1.4 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width
(Tjoa, 1953). The incubation period reported by several researchers ranged from three to four
days (Froggatt and O'Connor, 1941; Lever, 1979); five days (O'Connor, 1940; Waterhouse and
Norris, 1987); four to seven days or four days on the average (Tjoa, 1953).
Larvae The newly hatched larvae are whitish, later turn to yellowish and have an average
length of 2 mm. The older larvae have an average length of 8-10 mm. Larvae avoid light and
have distally U-like hooks. B. longissima undergoes four larval instars (Froggatt and O'Connor
(1941) or five to six larval instars (O'Connor, 1940). The total developmental period of larvae
vary about 36 days (O'Connor, 1940); 30-40 days (Froggatt and O'Connor, 1941; Waterhouse and
Norris, 1987); 23-43 days (Tjoa, 1953); or 35-54 days (Lever, 1979).
Pupae The newly formed pupae are yellowish-white and have an average length of 9-10
mm and a width of 2 mm. They have distally U-shaped hooks. The pupal period is six days
(O'Connor, 1940; Waterhouse and Norris, 1987); four to five days (Tjoa, 1953); or four to six
days (Lever, 1979).
Adult The adult male is generally smaller than the female and measures 7.5-10 mm long
and 1.5-2 mm wide. They avoid light and stay inactive inside the still - folded heart leaf during
day time and active fly and attack coconut plants at night. Female lays an average of 50-100 eggs
(O'Connor, 1940) until 117 eggs (Tjoa, 1953). Pre-oviposition period is 74 days (O'Connor,

1940) or one to two months (Waterhouse and Norris, 1987). The adult longevity ranges from two
and a half to three months (75-90 days) Tjoa (1953).
The development from egg to adult takes five to seven weeks. The beetles then mature in
other two weeks. This species is one of the thoroughly studied pest in Indonesia, with work
undertaken at Bogor, as well as Bulukumba and Manado (Kalshoven, 1981).
Factors Governing Abundance
Large scale availability of 2-3 year old coconut palms attracts the pest.
During dry periods
Palms that grown in poor soil, infested by aleurodids and other pests, inadequately
maintained, were susceptible to brontispa.
Strong monsoon winds are considered to reduce the influence of parasitoids and
predators.
MANAGEMENT CONTROL
A. Biological control
1. Entomopathogen
a. White muscardine fungus (Beauveria bassiana)
b. Green muscardine fungus (Metarhizium anisopliae)
2. Predators
a. earwig
3. Parasitoid
a. Tetrastichus sp.
B. Mechanical control
Prune and burn infested leaves and destroy beetles especially in nursery seedlings
and young plantings.
C. Cultural control
Plant cover crops, other leguminous crops and banana under coconut to enhance
population of parasitoids and predators as they feed in the nectar of these crops.
D. Chemical spraying
Chemical spraying may be done in case to case basis (feasible only in nursery
seedlings and young plantings) but not compulsory when there is numerous biocontrol agents
enough to minimize the pest population. This may not feasible in tall palms.
E. Trunk injection
This can be done as an emergency control measure for tall and mature palms.
REFERENCES:

Prepared by:
FREZIEL M. EDIO
MS Agronomy

Professor:
DR. RAMISES SOLANTE

COCONUT PEST: Scale Insect (Aspiditous destructor)