PCA braces vs brontispa coconut infestation

By Jennifer C. Tilos

Tuesday 27th of March 2012

DUMAGUETE CITY, March 267(PIA) -- The “Brontispa” coconut leaf beetle infestation has affected 22,000 coconut trees in Negros Oriental, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) reported.

PCA Provincial Coconut Development Manager Brendan Trasmonte said the Brontispa longissima has been monitored to be spreading out, particularly from Bayawan City to the towns of Basay, Siaton, and Guihulngan City.

Trasmonte said that of the number of trees infested, 19,000 come from Bayawan and neighboring towns; and 2,000 coco trees infected in Guihulngan.

Brontispa feeds on young leaves and damages seedlings and mature coconut palms. This insect belongs to the order of Coleoptera and Chrysomelidae family along with a number of beetle species.

Treatment is being done on affected coconut trees, which includes spraying with “karate” chemicals, pruning, and cut-and-burn to contain the spread of the invasive pests, said Trasmonte.

However, some farmer groups in affected areas have been trained to develop and use biological control, parasitoids, organisms or typical parasites that ultimately prevent the proliferation of the beetle, said the PCA official.

Initially, the local government of Bayawan has started culturing parasitoids to help eliminate the Brontispa problem.

Meanwhile, Representative Jocelyn Limkaichong has allocated P5 million in support of PCA’s coconut planting and replanting program.

The local government units in the first district will put up its coconut nursery expected to start in June, in time for the rainy season, said Trasmonte.

The first district has 32,839 hectares planted with 2,413,854 bearing coconut and 870,469 non-bearing trees.

For the second district, about 29,677 hectares of land are planted with 2,968,137 coco bearing and non-bearing fruits. While in the third district, 3,026,807 of coconut trees planted in 30,266 hectares of land. (rmn/JCT-PIA 7, Negros Oriental)