Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionCocoa weevil borer (061)
Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionCocoa weevil borer (061)
Summary
- Narrow distribution. Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands. On cocoa and several commercial forest trees, e.g., Eucalyptus and Terminalia.
- Eggs (2 mm) laid singly in cracks in trunk and branches; larvae bore into tree (3-9 months), then pupate; adults (1.5 mm long) without wings, feed on flowers, bark, surface of pods.
- Larvae cause dieback, and allow entry of e.g., Phytophthora (causing cankers) and termites.
- Cultural control: handpick in middle of day when weevils come down from the top of the canopy; inspect for tunnels, using wire to kill larvae; use coconuts for shade (possibly, ants reduce weevil numbers).
- Chemical control: mix acephate, white oil, metalaxyl (or phosphorus acid) and brush into holes; repeat after 2 weeks.
Common Name
Cocoa weevil borer
Scientific Name
Pantorhytes species. At least 13 species are recognised a pests of cocoa, most of them from Irian Jay and Papua New Guinea. Pantorhytes biplagiatus is a serious pest of cocoa in Solomon Islands. It is described here.
AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Photo 4 Global Invasive Species Database. (http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=110).
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
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