Tetrastichus brontispae (Ferriere), (Eulopidae, Hymenoptera) a new record of parasitoid attacking Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera) in the Philippines

Issue Date

10-2012

Abstract

Brontispa longissima (coconut leaf beetle or CLB) has invaded coconut plantations in Asia, the Pacific and Australia as early as 1999. In the Philippines, the pest was first sighted in 2005, and since then infestation has spread all over the country. About two million coconut palms in 44 provinces were affected (ARC Terminal Report, 2009, unpublished). Unabated infestation led to very low nut production and sometimes death of seedlings and bearings palms. Initial biocontrol activities centered on the use of two entomopathogens and two species of earwigs with limited success. In the hope of finding yet other insect species which may specifically target CLB, more surveys were conducted in high pest incidence areas. In Albay and Palawan, tiny black wasps emerged from field collected Brontispa pupae. This was identified as Tetrastichus brontispae (Ferriere) a known parasitoid of CLB in Indonesia. With the development of rearing techniques and delivery system, the parasitoid was regularly released in the Bicol Region, coconut areas with high incidence of CLB infestation. The use of biological control agent such as T. brontispae now forms part of the IPM program implemented by the Philippine Coconut Authority against the coconut leaf beetle.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

26

Issue

2

Page

197-198

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Physical Description

illustrations ; tables

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

TETRASTICHUS; HYMENOPTERA; CHRYSOMELIDAE; PARASITOIDS; NEW RECORDS; BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS; PEST CONTROL; PHILIPPINES

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS