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Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

Coconut leafminer (060)

Photo 1. Adult coconut leafminer, Promecotheca species. Note the fine lines where the insects have fed.

Photo 2. Large areas of decay on coconut leaflets after the leaves have been attacked by the coconut leafminer, Promecotheca species.

Photo 3. Adult Fiji coconut hispid, Promecotheca caerulipennis.

Photo 4. Extensive leaf decay in a plantation attacked by the coconut leafminer, Promecotheca species.

Photo 5.Single coconut palm to show the extensive leaf damage when attacked by the coconut leafminer, Promecotheca species.

Photo 6. A poster showing symptoms caused by the coconut leafminer, Promecotheca species, and its biology.

Summary

Narrow distribution. Philippines, Indonesia, Oceania. Coconuts, betel nut, sago palm, and a number of ornamental and wild palms. Occasional serious outbreaks occur.
The youngest 3-4 leaves are attacked first: adults make narrow feeding furrows in leaflets, and larvae mine them. Nursery attacks occur.
Outbreaks every 10-15 years, perhaps due to droughts. During outbreaks, leaflets destroyed, young nuts fall, flower production ceases, setting back production by 2 years; some palms may die.
Natural enemies: several parasitoid wasps, and ants are reported to be imported.
Cultural control: hand picking and pruning infested fronds suggested, but unlikely to be practical.
Chemical control: PDPs in nurseries, e.g., chilli, derris, pyrethrum; or synthetic pyrethroids, but these will kill natural enemies.

Common Name

Coconut leafminer, coconut leaf hispid

Scientific Name

Promecotheca species. Several species are recorded from Oceania. Promecotheca caerulipennis has a wide distribution among Pacific island countries. Promecotheca opacicollis has been identified as the species in Solomon Islands.

AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
¹Information from Swaine G (1971) Agricultural Zoology in Fiji. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. London; and FW Howard et al. (2001) Insects on palms. CABI Publishing, UK; and from Atumurirava F et al. Coconut leaf miner technical versus social analysis survey report ( (21-25 June 2010). Lata, Temotu Province, Solomon Islands. Photos 1&2,4-6 Jean-Pierre Labouisse, CIRAD, Montpellier, France. Photo 3 Henderson RC, Crosby TK (2012) Fiji Coconut Hispid (Promecotheca caerulipennis) PaDIL - (https://www.padil.gov.au).

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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