- Widespread distribution. Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania. On coconuts, betel nut, sago palm, oil palm, and a number of ornamental and wild palms. An important pest.
- Life cycle of beetle within unopened spear leaf. Grubs and adults chew young leaves giving a scorched look.
- Damage severe on seedlings and young palms, making them more susceptible to drought and disease.
- Natural enemies: several parasitoid wasps.
- Cultural control: local varieties more tolerant than exotic types, e.g., Malayan Dwarf, and Federated Malay States are susceptible.
- Chemical control: PDPs: chilli, derris, or pyrethrum; synthetic pyrethroids, but likely to kill natural enemies.
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides - Online edition
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides
Coconut hispine beetle (059)
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Summary
Common Name
Coconut hispine beetle, coconut leaf hispa.
Scientific Name
Brontispa longissima
AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Information from Waterhouse DF, Norris KR (1987) Brontispa longissima (Gestro). Biological Control Pacific Prospects. Inkata Press; and from Brumley C (2008) coconut hispine beetle (Brontispa longissima): PaDIL - (http://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.
