![]() ![]() But it doesn't say this, it says that you should be a rhinoceros (literally) and you will be successful. The worst that can happen is death, and that's not really a concern.Įssentially the book says that success starts with an attitude of success. You should shoot first and ask questions later, belittle those who are less successful, you should blow steam from your nostrils, and you should charge head first into anything. It's okay to be a cow if you want, we need cows, but you should know that cows suck. Self help by ordering you to connect with your inner rhinoceros, even though you're currently a cow. I thought it would be fun, but I was wrong. Expert advice on the most appropriate pesticides to use should always be sought from local agricultural authorities.This book is terrible. Recommendations will vary with the crop and system of cultivation. _ When using a pesticide, always wear protective clothing and follow the instructions on the product label, such as dosage, timing of application, and pre-harvest interval. ![]() Recommendations for alternatives should be sought from government authorities. Lindane (HCH) and Furadan (carbofuran) have been used in the past, but the production and use of these chemicals is restricted or banned in many countries. Previously, granular insecticides were placed in the axils of the fronds. It has still to be put to use in estate and smallholder plantations. It is said to be easy to make and is cheap. In Papua New Guinea, fewer palms of the Gazelle Tall died from attack compared to Rennell Tall or Malayan Dwarf.ĬHEMICAL CONTROL Chemical control of this pest is very difficult and not recommended under small-scale production systems.Ī pheromone has been isolated and used in mass trapping trials in Papua New Guinea. ![]() RESISTANT VARIETIES Fast-growing varieties are more likely to outgrow the damage caused by the beetles. Plant Pueraria phaseolodes, Mucuna pruriens or other legume species as soon as the trees have been felled to cover the logs and stumps in order to interrupt egg laying.Remove or burn breeding sites, large logs in particular (a difficult practice for small holders when clearing sites from forest).If possible replant coconuts within existing coconut plantations, where it might be expected that potential breeding sites for Scapanes would be low.Its success against Scapanes is limited by the dispersed distribution of the larvae. There have been no attempts at biological control although Scapanes is susceptible to Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus which has been used against Oryctes rhinoceros. It is mainly a grower-made problem due to planting coconuts in recently cleared forests. NATURAL ENEMIES As Waterhouse and Norris say in Biological Control Pacific Prospects, "Scapanes is not an attractive target for biological control". Males and females have been seen in the same tunnel in the crown of a coconut, but it is the male alone that is seen most commonly.Ĭontrol of Scapanes is difficult as they can cause substantial damage even though the numbers of adult beetles per hectare is relatively low. Males are horned (Photo 3) while females have small double horns on their heads. ![]() Adults are black, 4-6 cm long, and are strong fliers. As the larvae grow, they moult twice, reaching 10 cm in length and 2 cm wide, before pupating at about 9 months. Breeding sites have also been found in old nests of megapodes, when these were near breadfruit trees.Įggs hatch after about 30 days producing C-shaped larvae (Photo 2), with heads of reddish-brown to brown. In Papua New Guinea, breeding sites occur in cocoa and coconut plantations associated with rotting stumps of shade tree (e.g., Gliricidia sepium). The eggs are creamy-white, about 5 mm long and 3 mm diameter, laid singly in soil near rotting logs or other decaying matter that provides food for the larvae. The damage allows entry of other organisms: termites and, especially, Rhynchophorus weevils. If the growing point is damaged, the palms die. The emerging fronds show V-shaped cuts, twisting, spiraling and truncated leaflets. Damage to coconuts is considerable, especially up to 5 years' old. The adults bore into crowns of coconut, oil palm, betel nut, and other palm species, as well as pseudostems of bananas (Photo 1). ![]()
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