New way of controlling Oryctes monoceros (Coleoptera: Dynastidae), a coconut pest in Ghana

Oryctes monoceros is one of the most devastating pests in young coconut and oil palm plantings throughout West Africa. This species is controlled using different methods that can be applied in combination as part of Integrated Pest Management. The first naturally involves eliminating all larval sites, consisting of dead or felled coconut or oil palm stems. Rapidly covering felled stems with a cover crop can keep the populations of this pest down to a very low level. When adults attack, frequent monitoring of young plantings is recommended, as is the removal of adults from their galleries using a metal mini-harpoon. Chemical control with lambda-cyhalothrin reduces damage to seedlings, particularly as the product has good repellent properties. It remains effective for about a month. A cost effective, non-polluting and non toxic method of trapping O. monoceros adults has been developed, involving insertion of old fishing nets rolled into balls in the axils of young coconut fronds. Adults trapped by the rolled up fishing nets, eventually die, and attract other adults that are trapped in turn, thereby increasing the efficiency of the method. (Résumé d'auteur