Biologically-based IPM
·
Does not require large investment
·
Self-sustaining once established
· Always there in the ecosystem working natural balance
REMINDER:
§ It is important that leaves in the cultures should be regularly changed every 2 to 3 days to avoid build up of excessive moisture and the development of fungi that will cause death of the Brontispa cultures.
§ Allow at least 100 – 200 larvae or pupae in a rearing tray.
Mass Rearing the Pupal Parasitoid
· Biology
§ Life
cycle: from egg to adult: 12-18 days at 28 deg C
§ 7
to 47 wasps emerge from one pupa
§ Adult
stage: Females live for 7-10 days, Males for only 2-3 days; normally they die
soon after mating
§ Females
attack early pupal stage of the
Brontispa
§ Food
of adult wasps: Honey, honey dew, nectar
FIELD RELEASE OF THE PUPAL PARASITOIDS (Tetrastichus sp.)
Step 1. Make sure that areas to be released with the parasitoids are
free from insecticide spray one month prior to the release. Once the parasitoids are released, there
should be no more application of insecticides.
Step 2. Parasitoids can be released in the field as:
a.
Adult wasps
ü Wasps
are fed with honey
ü Releases
done early morning or late afternoon
ü Let wasps fly to find its host
b. Mummies
Mummies that are 1-2
day old before emergence are released
Place inside a suitable
shelter and hang on coconut fronds or any suitable vegetation around the
plantation (10 mummies / ha).
Step 3. Releases of the
parasitoids can be done on the advancing regions of Brontispa infestation.
Since the parasitoids have high searching capacity of its host, it will work
inwards the center of infestation. By
this method, the spread of infestation eventually be contained.
Recoveries
MONITORING
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PARASITOIDS IN THE RELEASE AREAS
1. Monitor
monthly the impact of the parasitoids on the Brontispa population, by looking
at damage level of the leaf spear and the young leaves in the central crown of
the palm.
2. Emergence
of undamaged new leaf of the previously damaged palms indicates the
establishment of the parasitoids as well as control of the Brontispa.
3. Sampling
for pest population count as well as level of parasitism can be done to
ascertain control using parasitoids against Brontispa
4. It
will take 6 to 12 months after release before any clear signs of undamaged
leaves can be observed on the palms.