KASARGOD: The Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) has issued ‘red alert’ against two invasive pests of coconut and has called for quarantine and thorough screening of baggage for ornamental palms at entry points into the country.
The directives comes against the backdrop of Brontispa longissima, a leaf beetle, and Aspidiotus rigidus, an armoured scale insect with few natural predators, causing extensive loss in neighbouring countries of Maldives, Myanmar and Indonesia; and in the Philippines respectively.
“Any invasive pest entering a new habitat (introduced country) would be catastrophic as it breeds prolific in a shorter period of time in the absence of its natural enemies,” said P Chowdappa, Director, CPCRI.
According to V Krishnakumar, head, Regional Station, Kayamkulam, strict quarantine should be put into practice at all airports and seaports to check any accidental introduction of Brontispa longissima in India.
So far, this pest has not been reported in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. But all other neighbouring countries, including China, have experienced the bites.
Scientists said transboundary movement of ornamental palms and other planting materials were a routine affair in almost all tourist baggage visiting these countries. They said with the Customs Department focusing mainly on bullion snatches, entry of invasive pests like B longissima through several ports was imminent.
Chandrika Mohan, Principal Scientist, Entomology, said that the surging infestation of Aspidiotus rigidus in the Philippines was causing damages in millions of dollars.
Aspidiotus destructor, a close relative of A rigidus, is already present in India, causing gradient outbreaks.
Intensive surveys conducted by CPCRI at South and Little Andamans have revealed the occurrence of a new chrysomelid beetle, Wallacea sp feeding on the coconut seedlings in nursery.
Though 80-90% of seedlings were infested by the pest damaging 40% of the leaf area, seedling mortality was not observed. Wallacea sp could not be located from adult palms, but prevalent in abandoned, unattended and old nurseries. Invasive nature of Wallacea sp is under scrutiny, as a close relative Wallaceana sp was reported from Indonesia.
Dr Chowdappa called for creating public awareness on the invasive pests and urged scientists in all state agricultural universities, ICAR institutes, and Coconut Development Board and officials in the Departments of Agriculture/Horticulture should to keep strict vigil and bring to the notice of CPCRI any incidence of the pest.