- Narrow distribution. In Hawaii and Oceania. On coconuts and other palms. Occasionally serious on mature palms and seedlings, but effect on yield unknown.
- Larvae do the damage, making a protective fine web and eating the leaf from the underside. More abundant during dry weather.
- Natural enemies: several parasitoid wasp introductions have been made; also ants eat the eggs and spiders eat the adults.
- Cultural control: no recommendations.
- Chemical control: on mature palms pesticides unlikely to be economic, and will delay control by natural enemies; on seedlings, use synthetic pyrethroids, but they will also kill natural enemies.
Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides
Coconut flat moth (065)
Coconut flat moth
Agonoxena sp. The main pest species of Pacific Island countries is Agonoxena argaula. Agonoxena pyrogramma also occurs.
AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Information from Waterhouse DF, Norris KR (1987) Agonoxena argaula Meyrick. Biological Control Pacific Prospects. Inkata Press. Photos 1,2&4 Gerald McCormack, Cook Islands Biodiversity & Natural Heritage. (http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org).
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.