Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides

Cocoa weevil borer (061)


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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 Jaya and Papua New Guinea. Pantorhytes biplagiatus is a serious pest of cocoa in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. It is described here.


AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Photo 4 Global Invasive Species Database. (http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=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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