Oil Palm

Spindle bug

Symptoms of damage

Spindle bug - generally noticed in nursery seedlings and field planted young seedlings.

Adults and nymphs of spindle bug live in the innermost two to three leaf axils.

Suck sap from the spindle of leaves

Necrotic lesions which later on turn into dry brown patches.

In severe infestation the spindle fails, to open.

Management

Ploythene sachets - filled with Phorate 10 G (Thimet 10G), @ 2g per sachet, placed in the innermost two leaf axils (one sachet each in a leaf axil).

The same sachets can be used for 6 – 8 months.

Rhinoceros beetle

Symptoms of damage

Adult beetles bore into the palms and chew the tender tissues

Spindle to break and droop.

Entry holes - presence of chewed-up tissues.

Infested leaves - shortened, broken and distorted.

Fruits - the upper portion of the bunch get underdeveloped and dried.

Damage to the heart of the palm - way for the entry of fungi and bacteria,

Induce rotting in the bud.

Identification of pest

Grub: Sluggish, white, ‘C’ shaped.

Adult: Stout brownish black with a horn projecting from the head.

Management

1. Cultural control

All possible breeding sites are to be eliminated from the plantation.

2. Mechanical

The adult beetles which burrow deep into the crowns of young palm

Extracted by means of a hooked out (metal rod)

After extraction of the beetle, the leaf axils around the injured spindle are to be filled with a mixture of

mancozeb (fungicide) and fine sand at the ratio of 3g: 1kg.

3. Chemical control

Leaf axil filling in severely infested young plantation during April–May, September–October and December–January

using sevidol Granule @ 25 g per palm per application mixed with 200 g of sand.

breeding materials cannot be eliminated - treated with carbaryl 50 WP at 0.01 per cent on w/w basis.

4. Biological

Release of Baculovirus infected adult beetles (@ 10 – 15 beetles/ha

It is the most economical, effective and easy method for dissemination of the inoculum.

Application of M. anisopliae in the breeding sites is very effective for the control of grubs.

5. Attractants

Rhinolure vane trap hanged at a height of 10ft.

It is found to be very effective in trapping adult beetles

Castor seed powder fermented in rice water and kept in mud pots at ground level

It is an efficient method for trapping adult beetles.

Red palm weevil

Symptoms of damage

Rhinoceros beetle attacked palms are more prone to infestation by red palm weevil.

Grubs bore into stem and feed on softer tissues of stem, meristem and mesocarp of fruits.

Infested palms - gradual wilting and drying of outer whorl of fronds.

In severe - rotting of spear.

Red palm weevil lays eggs on injuries made by rhinoceros beetle on bunches.

Larvae feed on the mesocarp of fruits and penetrate into peduncle for pupation.

Infestation causes qualitative and quantitative loss of the fruits.

Identification of pest

Management

Ripe bunches are to be harvested in time. Avoid making wounds on the palm and bunches.

Prophylactic leaf axil filling is to be done for young palms as in the case of rhinoceros beetle.

Trunk injection with carbaryl 50% WP at 1% is an effective curative treatment.

Mealy bugs

Symptoms of damage

Mealy bugs infest the spear leaves of oil palm seedlings in the nursery and main field

Yellowing of young leaves and stunted growth of palms.

It is also infests the unripe and ripe oil palm fruits

pre anthesising of male and female inflorescences.

Identification of pest

Adult - White mealy bugs.

Management

Collection and destruction of infested plant parts

Collect planting material from unaffected plantation

Spraying with dimethoate at 0.03% or methyl demeton at 0.025%.

Release coccinellid beetle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri @ 10 / tree

Nettle caterpillar

Symptoms of damage

Nettle caterpillars - stinging spines which can cause nettle rash on contact with the skin.

Caterpillars feed on the leaves

Infestation – mostly occur in outer whorl of fronds and middle whorl of fronds.

Identification of pest

Larvae are slender and greenish in colour with yellow coloured head.

Management

Cutting and burning the badly affected and dried leaves.

Spraying with Carbaryl 50% W.P. 0.1% is recommended (younger larvae are more susceptible)

Mites

Symptoms of damage

Mites suck the sap from the leaves.

Attacked leaves - discoloured and look speckeld.

Nursery and young palms are severely disrupted.

Management

Application of dicifol 2ml/lit or wettable sulphur 2g/lit.

Common mynah

Symptoms of damage

It is found to infest oil palm fruits throughout the year.

Management

Covering the fruit bunch with suitable low cost material is the simplest and effective method

Twenty two gauge galvanized iron wire mesh (60 x 90 cm) (the size depending upon the fruit bunches) used to

cover the Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) atleast of 3-4 times.

At least 10 cm gap between the net and the fruit bunch.

Old palm leaves - used for covering fruit bunches to protect them from avian pest.

Leaf tips of about one meter length are cut and packed at close intervals into the leaf axils.

Near the fruit bunches and tied with rope to keep them firm and impenetrable by the bird.

Other materials like plaited coconut leaf basket, reed basket, used polythene (cement) bags etc.

Rodents, Burrowing rat

Symptoms of damage

The burrowing rats burrow down to the bole of the palms and make cavities into the hole

Feed the sweet inner cabbage portion.

No external symptoms - entire meristematic region is devoured.

Suddenly the leaves look wilted or dried and death of the palm.

Management

1. Orchard sanitation

Field sanitation

Clean cultivation

2. Mechanical barrier

At the time of planting - rodent infested areas, can be covered with 22 gauge galvanized iron (chicken) wire mesh

3. Traps

Different traps are available in the market.

Cage trap, spring death trap, death fall trap, bamboo noose trap etc.

Trap shyness may become a problem after continuous use.

Cleaning and washing the traps daily

Changing the places for keeping the traps frequently etc.

4. Chemical control