SCALE INSECT CocB-Lsar {The coconut scale insect oF CSI (Aspidiotos destructor) la smal plant parasite that feeds onthe leaves of young palms and on the surface of ts Results to the yellowing and wiking of leaves thus preventing phetoayntieis ond {using premature nut fal and iow productivity. BCoconut the preferred host which is found mainly onthe underside ofthe Teaet In severe eases, C3 infestation I seen al over the entre plant. BAe attacks ornamental plants and fut tiees like mango, lanzones, mango, mangosteen, guava, papayar an avocado, breed causes : Bad agricultural practices such as overuse ‘or misuse of pesticides Natural causes such as long drought and climate change. Scale insects multiply faster in hot and dry | weather The 2009 EI Nino phenomenon that hit Southern Luzon, particularly Batangas, allowed the scale insect to reproduce faster and trigger increase in population. & Changing weather conditions also affect, pest reproduction KS EALABARZON 1 bya cul tis fate the epidemic began and continues to Speedin Calabarzn, the Lon region withthe get caconut "The infestation was fist teprted to the PCA in March 2010 "ie as fist spoted in Barangay Saleen Tnauan, tangas cA scents ad farmer cbseredsvous yellowing of coconut andthe yng ofthe ees leaves. The wate sie the {On August 24,2012 Sangguniang Bayan decared 6 barangeyt of Batangas unde the tate of alam (Barangays of Ala, San Suc, Cora Mant, Slangon,Famig,and Mabini. 1Mid.2013 data ~CALABARZON: 1 Atotalof 17 milion tees ware Infested athe PCA Adminstrator ucides Forbes sald that the infestation has ected neglible 005 prc ofthe 30 milion coconut tres in the county (17 milion total) 81931, 139 coconut rer were infested in Batango, Quezon, 257.996 were sprayed and 257343 were fertzed byte PCA 1 476,045 coconut trees were nfertd In 9 municipalities etanges and Quezon 8 wt ofthe SAGIP progam 3 ‘ees showed signs of ecvery with the appearance of new a ‘ede rom Calabrzo, te scale set infestation of more wn 6000 coconut tern 15 barangays Inaba iy, asian province (PCA report 2013) SAGIP PROGRAM 19 FCA in joint cooperation with the LGU Gobyerna Indust at Pamayanan}in Quezon @atang3s jana and Cole nthe Yet week of uly 2072, SAGIP Program 2 massive operation to effectively curb the outbreak of scale insects, © spraying of hnashing olton and cocina | test praningofyoung and mogeatelyaected eves © appleton of fers © mass production and eleat of bocontil agents 8 Api ofr yong pas and sedingsBRONTISPA COCONUT LEAF BEETLE 8 Brontispa Longissima or Coconut Leaf Beetle is damaging pest that feeds on young leaves and mature coconut palms. Uthe leat beetle I a native of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. ithe beetle was carried through imported ‘ornamental plants from infested countries, Damaged palms appear burnt ata distance Severe attack by Brontispa can destroy palm leaves, restricts growth and Significantly reduce coconut yields. FACTORS AFFECTING ABUNDANCE {@Dry periods favor the development of Brontispa populations. The coconut leaf beetle spreads mostly through the movement of infested palms, H'The palms grown in poor soll and infested by pests were more susceptible to attack of Brontispa, |ovronears MECHANICAL CONTROL ‘abrontispa infestation was frst sighted mong eszonut wees slong arpor Road, NAA and Sasa es nosy ct in Apr 2005 Beiaze hen infestation as been reported in penray provinces Pee re coconut trees in Samar were Nit ein pelcat bolle n tat same year, aso by tne Store tnan2.000 ees 0 Pangasinan BresneSov0fou0it, coconut ea beetle arco ccsnut farsi Maasn iy, Southem teve EES So12, coconut lat beetles threatened Hin, 20)7 ssn Cental Mindanao oF the Socorro os they already inested at aca intne regan’ province Feu eh data shows that fem August 2007 Braue Poel avon topa has already fected, to Metin tice lion coconut tees {BBlockading and cutting of coconut palms up to 3 kilometers fram the infestation spot BPruning, clean culture and proper disposal of infested coconut palms. CULTURAL CONTROL Plant cover crops, other leguminous crops and banana under coconut to enhance population of parasitoids. CHEMICAL SPRAYING ‘ASpraying insecticides may be done on a case to case basis but not compulsory BFeasible only in nursery seedlings and young plantings: thismay not be feasible on tall Balms, ithe effect of these treatments lasts only for 5-4 months; cannot be used as a long-term control measure. SOLUTIONS |BIOLOGIGAL CONTROL Most recently, PCA has released 1.5 million ‘wasps (Tetrastichus sp.) to ight the coconut pest Elfetrastichus sp, the insects are being bred at the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Coconut Authority-Davao Research Center {DA-PCA-DRC). BPCA-DRC researchers now mass-pr TRUNK INJECTION ‘can be done as an emergency measure to Control Brontispa for tall and mature palms. roduce the “itiendly wasps" in the laboratory and release eengueez more them in infested coconut areas, alee" Two parasitoids of coconut leaf beetle viz, TTetrastichus sp and Asecodes hispinarum. are also used to control the pest. In 2009, a total of ther Tools {1948 parasitoid adults were released in infested /. ane ree ay barangays in Region Xi and parallel laboratory [eat tests. Biological Control ‘apestomedea canes tn jas, of the fungi such (White Muscardine ceeaacotea ee a eae a Fungus Green Muscardine Fungus), which infect the larva, pupa and adult of Brontispa