Integrated Pest Management

Executive Diploma in Plantation Management

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated management of Rhinoceros beetles

Malaysia has banned open burning of old oil palm biomass at replanting. The most widely adopted zero burn techniques of replanting oil palms in Malaysia currently are the “chipped and windrow” and “under-planting” methods. These methods resulted in very high breeding of Rhinoceros beetles, which has become the most serious pest in immature and young mature palms in Malaysia currently.

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The size of the Rhinoceros beetles (Oryctes rhinoceros) is around 30-5mm long and 14-21mm breadth, black or reddish black in color, stout and possesses a characteristic cephalic horn which is larger in males. The pygedium is densely clothed with reddish brown hairs on the ventral surface in the female which helps in distinguishing it from the male.

In oil palm Rhinoceros beetles bores into the base of cluster of spears, causing wedge shaped cuts in the unfolded fronds. In younger palms the effect of damage can be much more severe. Attack by adults may reduce yield and kill seedlings. They may provide entry points for lethal secondary attacks by the palm weevil Rhyncophorus or by other pathogens.

Integrated control measures adopted on a community basis are essential to bring an effective control of an Oryctes rhinoceros population. The major components of the Integrated Pest Management Package consist of mechanical, chemical and biological methods. Mechanical methods consist of examine trees for infestation and removing the beetle physically. Prophylactic methods (preventive measures) include the use of pesticides and RB pheromone to repel the beetles. Oil cakes of neem and marotti (Hydnocarpus wightiana) have also provided good results.

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Biological control of the beetle is the most important component of the IPM package. The green Muscardine fungus Metarhizium anisopliae M. is a pathogen which kills the pest in conditions of low...