On May 17th 2022, the National Stakeholders Platform Technical Committee met to plan training for coconut farmers. The First training is scheduled for June 3rd, 2022 starting at 9:00 am in Red Bank village, Stann Creek district. Topic to be discussed is “Control of Coconut Beetle using Integrated Pest Control Methodology “.
Adult beetles cause damage to palms by boring holes into the central growing point of the crown to feed on the young host tissue sap (juice).
They start by tearing or drilling their way through softer young unopened fronds into the center of the growing spike where they feed on the sap. They may come out through the base of the frond midrib (10-50 cm from the base). When the damaged young frond opens, and V or wedge shaped sections of the leaf are missing.
Some signs of the presence of the beetle also include excreted plant tissue and insect droppings (frass) emerging from the entrance holes. Holes in the base of frond stems are also commonly seen. But the holes themselves can also be obscured by the base of the fronds.
