Strategies and methods for the management of leaf-eating caterpillars of oil palm
1998
Chung, G.F. (Sime Darby Plantation, Ebor Research, Locked Bag No 7202, 40706 Shah Alam, Selangor (Malaysia))
Leaf eating caterpillars are important pests of oil palm. These caterpillars include the bagworms, nettle caterpillars, hairy caterpillars and some other less important caterpillars. It is often difficult to see them when there is no outbreak, because they are restricted at low number by their natural enemies. Under suitable conditions, especially in the breakdown of natural control, leaf-eating caterpillars can build up into large population rapidly and cause severe damage by virtue of their voracious feeding. Artificial defoliation experiments and commercial outbreaks had recorded crop losses of up to 40-50 percent in mature palm, and 30 to 76 percent lower yield over two years caused by defoliation in immature period. The occurence of pest outbreak and factors regulating pest numbers are relevant to the pest control procedure. Therefore knowledge on natural balance, environmental factors and agronomic practices are considered in the formulation and development of integrated pest management programmes. This paper propose several short and long-term strategies, and also discuss the various methods for the management of leaf-eating caterpillar pests of oil palm.
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