INCO Project ERB 18 CT 970199. New technology of pest management against insect pests of oil palm and coconut crops. Research on and development of selective trapping using synthetic attractants : Year 4 - Annual report 4, October 1st to 30 September 2001

Work has focused on identifying the pheromones of insect pests in young oil palm and coconut plantings, and allelochemical substances (plant odours) acting in synergism with pheromones, in order to develop effective attractants. The partners from the South are oil palm and coconut producers (CENIPALMA in Colombia, CCRI in Papua New Guinea and IOPRI in Indonesia) with three European organizations (CIRAD-CP and INRA in France and INIA in Spain) along with two SME (EGNO-C and AgriSense-BCS Ltd). The study insects are: in Indonesia: Oryctes rhinoceros (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae), whose adults mine galleries at the base of young fronds. This is a pest that develops substantially in oil palm replantings, due to the existence of old stems left in the field. It also attacks young coconut palms throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific; in Colombia, Strategus aloeus (Scarabaeidae), which attacks young oil palms and coconut palm, and Rhynchophorus palmarum (Curculionidae, Rhynchophorinae), whose larvae develop inside the plant. This weevil is also a vector of Red Ring disease. In Papua New Guinea, Scapanes australis (Scarabaeidae) and Rhynchophorus bilineatus (Rhynchophorinae) are often associated in attacks causing damage to young coconut palms. This is the main constraint on coconut development in some regions of the country. The methodology implemented comprises: - close observations of insect sexual activity, behaviour and distribution on the host plant and in reproduction sites; trapping trials with five insects; - laboratory work to collect and analyse odours; tests to identify active compounds and assess synthetic compounds; field trials. The longest phase remains optimization of the conditions for use in field and implementation of a strategy for attractant and trap use. (Résumé d'auteur