- World distribution unknown. On bele (aibika, sliperi kabis, island cabbage, Abelmoschus manihot), and other members of the Hibiscus family, including the cultivated Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and the wild Hibiscus tiliaceus. An important pest.
- Mines caused by a moth larva making leaves inedible. Mines occur alongside veins, causing paper-thin, silvery, bronzed shiny areas.
- Cultural control: squash the mines by hand if numbers are small; if numerous, remove affected leaves and burn; do not plant next to infested gardens; after last harvest, pull out and burn the plants.
- Chemical control: use soap, white or horticultural oils; use PDPs (with soap): chilli, derris, pyrethrum, or neem; use synthetic pyrethroids, or systemic products, e.g., acephate or imidacloprid, but they are more likely to kill natural enemies.
Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides
Bele (Abelmoschus) leafminer (256)
There is no common name. Here it is called bele leafminer.
Acrocercops panall, a member of the Gracillariidae family. Acrocercops cathedrae is recorded from Papua New Guinea1.
AUTHOR Grahame Jackson and Mani Mua
1Preston SR (1998) Aibika/Bele. Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. 24. Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben/International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome; and 2Swaine G (1971) Agricultural Zoology in Fiji. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. London, HMSO.
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.