Controlling Rhinoceros beetle in coconut
RHINOCEROS BEETLE (Oryctes rhinoceros), is a key pest causing damage in coconut. The adult beetle bores into the unopened spindle leaves and spathes.
The affected leaves when fully open exhibit characteristic geometric cuts. Nut production decreases.
Pest characteristics
Grubs are stout, sluggish and white in colour with a pale brown head and are usually found in manure pits at a depth of 5-30 cm. Adult beetle is stout, black, about 15 cm long and has a long horn projecting dorsally from the head in male and the horn is smaller in female.
The beetle breeds in decaying organic matter, cattle dung heaps, compost pits, felled coconut logs and stumps, coir dust, and saw dust heaps.
Peak emergence of the adult beetle occurs during the months of June-August. Total life cycle is completed in 3-9 months.
Pest management
- Collection and destruction of various bio-stages of the beetle from the manure pits.
- Incorporation of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae in manure pits to check the perpetuation of the pest.
- Soaking of castor cake at 1 kg in 5 litres of water in small mud pots and placing them in coconut gardens to attract and kill the adults.
- Longitudinally split tender coconut stem and green petiole of fronds can be treated with fresh toddy and kept in the garden to trap the beetles.
- Setting up of light traps following the first rains in summer and monsoon.
- Field release of Baculovirus inoculated adult rhinoceros beetle reduces the leaf and crown damage caused by the beetle.
- Mixture of either neem seed powder + sand (1:2) at 150 g per palm or neem seed kernel powder + sand (1:2) at 150 g per palm applied in the base of the 3 innermost leaves in the crown effectively controls the pest.
K. Ramaraju & P. Pretheep Kumar
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Sci Tech
