Pest dynamics and suppression strategies

Abstract

Dynamism of pests attacking coconut is ever increasing realizing action threshold many a times diminishing palm productivity and threatening livelihood security. Living with pests is, thus, gaining momentum for sustaining coconut yield and safeguarding environment considering the perennial and homestead nature of palms. Bionomics, geo-maps and bio-intensive area-wide management of key pests of coconut, viz. rhinoceros beetle, red palm weevil, black-headed caterpillar, eriophyid mite, white grubs and rodents, as well as emerging pests such as coreid bug, slug caterpillars, whiteflies including the invasive rugose spiralling whitefly, mealybugs, scale insects, ash weevils and nut borers are lucidly presented with all cutting-edge eco-friendly technologies to counter their menace. Storage pests of copra and techniques to unhinge are drawn around. Palm nematodes and potential invasive pests such as Brontispa longissima, Aspidiotus rigidus and Wallacea jarawa are underscored with strategies on emergency preparedness and incursion management. Biorational approaches and health management of palms are greatly emphasized to suppress pests in the most economical and convincing manner. Good agricultural practices, agroecosystem-based stimulo-deterrent strategies, semiochemical tools and nanoporous delivery mechanism of pheromones, diversity farming methods and farmer-participatory community approaches including farmer field school mode to empower farmers with all innovative pest management actions towards harnessing sustainable palm yield in all coconut-growing countries are accentuated.