BIOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL

CONTROL OF THE BRONTISPA

LONGISSIMA GESTRO

C.E. GALLEGO, V.C. GALLEGO, A.R.

ALFILER and M. B. ZIPAGAN
  Hispine beetle (Coleoptera :
Chrysomelidae)
 Potentially serious pest of coconut
and ornamental palm species
 Endemic to Indonesia, Papua New
Guinea and Solomon island
 Introduced and spread in Vietnam, Nauru, Thailand,
Maldives and China
 Incurred losses in revenue from coco sales & purchases,
estimated US$ 32,000 (Maldives); US$ 17.8 million coconut
industry (Thailand)
 First detected in April 2005 in the Philippines (Metro Manila;
Roxas Blvd; Airport Road; Laguna; Bulacan; Pampanga)
 Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Maa, Davao City and Zamboanga
(September 2006)
Nature & Extent of Damage

 Both larvae and adults

destructive
 They shun light
 Gnaw long incisions in the
tissues

 Parallel to one another and to the veins of

leaflets
 Leaving longitudinal white streaks
 Incisions close to
one another

 Photosynthesis
reduced
 Adult

Larva
Brontispa adults on a leaflet
 120-220 days
Adult
35 days
Egg-adult emergence
6.5 days 4 days
Pupa Egg

23 days
Larva
Life Cycle of Brontispa longissima Gestro
(Liebregts, Tan Viet & Chapman)
 101-202 days
Adult

31-46 day
Egg-Adult Emergence
8-12 days 5-9 days
Pupa Egg

22-32 days
Larva
Life Cycle of Plesispa reichei Chapius (Gallego & Abad, 1985)
 MINOR PEST

MAJOR PEST

Brontispa longissima Gestro Plesispa reichei Chapius

(Attacked mature and young ( Attacked coconut
palms) seedlings)
 How to separate the two common
coconut hispine beetles
1. Pronotum broad in
2 Brontispa while it is
narrowed in Plesispa
1 2. Antenna in Brontispa
is filiform while
antennal segments in
Plesispa are distinct
3. Patterns on the elytra
3 of Brontispa are finer
while on Plesispa
there are deeper
punctations.

Brontispa Plesispa
Differences in the two species of hispine beetle

Brontispa longissima Gestro Plesispa reichei Chapius

 Broad pronotum  Pronotum narrows towards
 Filiform antenna the head
 Pattern on elytra are finer  Antenna (segment distinct)
 Deeper punctations
Damage symptoms of Coconut Hispine Beetle on young palms
Koh Samui - Thailand
Koh Samui - Thailand
 In addressing pest outbreaks…

 unsustainable to rely on chemical pesticides

 serious concern about health risks

 hazardous and expensive

 IPM (Integrated Pest Management) is effective,

environmentally sensitive and relies on
combinations of common sense control
practices/strategies
Goal of IPM ……

 Not to eliminate the pest

Rather. . . . to reduce pest population to

less than damaging numbers

Applying multiple control strategies

minimizes chance that the pest will adapt to
any one control tactic
 As end users move away
from the IPM foundations,

ntegrated they will experience:

Increasing …

est  Cost
 Environmental Impacts

anagement Decreasing …
 Sustainability

Cultural control, mechanical Species diversity
control genetics & host plant
resistance, pheromones;
sterile-male techniques; etc.

The use of natural enemies, such as parasitoids,

predators and natural occurring pathogens, to reduce
the competitive advantage of exotic invasive insect
pests, nematodes and plant pathogens
Biologically-based IPM

 Does not require large investment

 Self-sustaining once established
 Always there in the ecosystem working a
natural balance
 Fungal Pathogens of
Brontispa longissima

Metarhizium
anisopliae

Beauveria
bassiana
 Fungus Infection Cycle

spores 4- 6 days

Beauveria High humidity

Low temperature
Low sunlight

spores 4- 6 days

Metarhizium
Infectivity Testing
for field collected
Entomopathogenic Fungi
against Brontispa
Methodology for fungal mass production:

1. Isolation of fungus to pure culture

2. Mass production in corn substrate
3. Fungal processing, storage and
packing for dispatch to farmer-
clientele
4.Infectivity tests when called for
(quality control test)
 Isolation in
pure culture

White Muscardine Fungus

Beauveria bassiana
Isolation in pure culture

Green Muscardine Fungus

Metarhizium anisopliae
Mass production in corn substrate
Fungus Processing, Storage and
Packaging
Infectivity Testing
of mass produced
Entomopathogenic Fungi
for quality control
 HOW TO USE ENTOMOPATHOGENS
Materials needed

Fungus inoculum

Dried

Fresh
HOW TO USE ENTOMOPATHOGENS
Materials needed
Sprayer

Pail

Stirrer
HOW TO USE ENTOMOPATHOGENS
Materials needed

Rubber gloves
Face mask
 HOW TO USE ENTOMOPATHOGENS
Preparing the spray solution

Place fungus
inoculum in a pail
with water

Mash the corn grits

to release the
spores
 HOW TO USE
ENTOMOPATHOGENS

Preparing the
spray solution

Fresh or dried
fungus inoculum
can be used
 HOW TO USE
ENTOMOPATHOGENS

Preparing the
spray solution

Strain the spray

solution to prevent
clogging of sprayer
nozzle
Spraying of fungal pathogens
 Spraying
of
fungal
pathogens
HOW TO USE ENTOMOPATHOGENS
Frequency of Application
Twice at 7-8 days interval

Timing of Application
Early morning/Late afternoon

Dosage
2 btls /1
tankload(fresh) or 1 pck /1
tankload (dry)
ADVANTAGES
High degree of specificity

Non-toxic to nontarget organisms

Targets larvae and adults
No phytotoxic effect
Biodegradable
DISADVANTAGES
Specific environmental conditions
Low temperature
High relative humidity
Low
sunlight intensity
High degree of specificity
Slow acting (compared to chemical
spray)
Can cause allergic reaction to
hypersensitive people
Requirements for
mass production of
entomopathogens

Laboratory area:
Isolation room
Growth room
Working area
 Laboratory Set-Up

Isolation area Growth area

Requirements for mass production
of entomopathogens

Equipment:
Isolation chamber w/ UV light
Sterilizer/ autoclave and
stove
Hotplate w/ stirrer
Weighing balance, sealer
Corn grinder
Isolation chamber
Weighing
Balance

Heater/stirrer

Autoclave
• 1 bottle of WMF corn substrate = 250 grams

• 2 bottles WMF loaded to 16-liter backpack

sprayer

• approx. 200 ml fungal spray per tree

• 1 tankload sprayer (16 li) = can spray 80

trees

• 1 bottle WMF = 40 trees

PREDATOR OF THE COCONUT
LEAF BEETLE: EARWIGS
(Chelisoches morio)
 Predators:
 organisms that feed on pests

 generally bigger than prey (pest)

 actively seek and capture its prey

 mostly are generalists

 BIOLOGY

 develop from egg to adult ~ 30 to 35

days with 4-5 instars
 lays 6 egg batches w/ 40 eggs per
batch in intervals of 1 month or total of
240 eggs
 Undergoes 5 nymphal instars
 Egg hatches in 6-aa8 days
 Sex ratio is 6:1 in favor of females
 Adult lives 65 to 74 days
 How to Mass Produce Earwigs
Materials
1. Rearing tray 9. Cutter
(18”x24”x7”) 10. Cotton
2. Breeder cage 11. Coir dust/fiber
3. Trigger Sprayer 12. Ice cream cups w/
4. Clear ice cream plastic cover
cups 13. Fabricated earwig
5. Dried coconut and release container
banana leaves 14. Bamboo poles
6. Dog food 15. Nylon twine
7. Miller/Grinder 16. Fine Sand
8. Nylon mesh cloth
 METHODOLOGY
A. Fabrication of Rearing Containers
1. Obtain clear plastic
containers (about
18”x24”x7” or
bigger) and mark a
circle (6” dia.) on
right side of lid
2. Cut the marked
circle with a sharp
knife or pruning
shear
3. Get old stockings and
cut at about 8”
length
A. Fabrication of Rearing Containers

5. If the lid of the

container does not fit
well to its receiver, cut
a long strip of old foam
(about 1”x1”) and paste
on the rim
6. Cut also a 4”x6” hole on
the left side of the lid
and paste fine meshed
nylon cloth to cover the
hole; this would serve
as additional ventilation
A. Fabrication of Rearing Containers

7. Line bottom of containers

with coir fiber up to 0.5 cm
thickness; pour in a mixture
of coir dust and sand (4 : 1
ratio) moistened to about 50-
60%; fill up to about half of
the container
8. Place dried coconut leaves
on top of the medium and
moisten using a hand sprayer
B. Collection of Earwigs and Establishment of Founder
Population
1. Fabrication of breeder cage

a. Construct a 2mx1mx 0.5m

[LxWxH] breeder cage(s)
enclosed in fine meshed
screen-wire and with
wooden frame. Create a 2
holes to be lined with a cut
portion (8” long) of used
stocking or a 1’x1’ window
on the front of the cage
which will serve as entry to
the enclosure
B. Collection of Earwigs and Establishment of
Founder Population
b. Line bottom of containers
with coir fiber up to 0.5 cm
thickness; pour in a mixture
of coir dust and sand (4 : 1
ratio) moistened to about
50-60%; fill up to about half
of the container
c. Place dried banana leaves
on top of the medium and
moisten using a hand
sprayer
d. Provide dog food and cotton
dipped in clean water
B. Collection of Earwigs and Establishment of
Founder Population
1. Collection of initial earwig population
from banana plantation
a. Locate vast and relatively undisturbed banana
plantation, preferably “saba”
b. Peel off outer and older bract to locate the
predators
c. Earwigs can also be collected on 6-10 year old
coconuts which are starting to bear fruits; the
earwigs can be found in the base of fronds or in
the space covered by “ginit”
d. Carefully hand-pick earwigs if sighted
B. Collection of Earwigs and Establishment
of Founder Population
1. Collection of initial earwig
population from banana plantation

e. Place earwigs in any plastic container with small

holes for ventilation
f. Bring containers to the laboratory if sufficient
predators has been collected
g. If there are very limited number of earwigs in the
area, request initial stock from PCA
B. Collection of Earwigs and Establishment of
Founder Population
2. Collection of initial earwig population
from oil palm plantation

a. Earwigs can be carefully hand pick from

bunches of palm oil in the processing plant.
b. Placed earwigs in plastic containers with holes
for ventilation
c. Bring containers to the laboratory once
sufficient earwigs have been collected
d. Place earwig collection into breeder cage
C. Preparation of Egg-Laying Medium and Mass Rearing
Proper

1. Prepare small clear

ice cream plastic
cups; fill 3/4th of the
cups with moistened
(50%) coir dust
2. Punch minute holes
on the lid of each
cup, cover and store
C. Preparation of Egg-Laying Medium and Mass Rearing
Proper

3. Place as many ice cream

cups (with medium and lid
removed) in the breeder
cage as possible
4. Observe daily; place date
on plastic cups with newly
laid eggs; do not disturb
the set-up
C. Preparation of Egg-Laying Medium and Mass Rearing
Proper

5. Gravid or pregnant female earwigs

will start to construct a tunnel or
burrow near the wall (side or bottom)
of the cups; after 5 days, transfer
cups with egg clusters in empty
plastic containers; egg clusters with
same batch must be placed in a
common container provided with food
and cotton dipped in water; each
female can lay up to 240 eggs in six
batches during its entire life (40
round and white eggs in cluster per
batch)
C. Preparation of Egg-Laying Medium and Mass Rearing
Proper

6. The eggs will hatch in

6-8 days with 90%
survivorship and 1:6
male-to-female ratio;
nymphs will mature in
30 days and the
adults will live for 68-
75 days
C. Preparation of Egg-Laying Medium and Mass Rearing
Proper

7. Note the date when

the eggs hatch;
allow the nymphs to
flex and acclimatize
for two days then
return the female to
the breeder cage
C. Preparation of Egg-Laying Medium and Mass Rearing
Proper

8. Transfer about 100-

300 nymphs in
plastic containers
with provisions
(ground dog food or
fish meal (15 g) and
water placed on cut
bottom of ice cream
cups or lid) and
cleaned soil litter
with minute insects
C. Preparation of Egg-Laying Medium and Mass Rearing
Proper

9. Store in enclosed but

well-ventilated room
10.Replenish food and
water as often as
possible
11. Moisten medium
regularly using a small
hand sprayer
C. Preparation of Egg-Laying Medium and Mass Rearing
Proper

12. Adult earwigs can thus be gathered from the set-up

about 30-40 days later
13. Repeat procedure as above until enough stocks are
established.
14. All maintenance procedures must be followed to
ensure proper nourishment and good breeding of the
predators
15. About 100-300 earwigs can be produced from each
rearing container in 2 months.
16. Introduce NEW field collected adult earwigs monthly to
improve vigor of the rearing stock
MASS REARING CENTERS

659,880 individuals
BARANGAY LEVEL MASS REARING OF
THE COMMON BLACK EARWIG
 FIELD RELEASE OF ADULT EARWIGS

Put small amount of coir fiber on ice cream cup, introduce 10 adult earwigs and cover
the cup
Cups with 10 earwigs each ready for transport to the field for release
Adult earwigs and coir fiber placed in a fabricated release container
Cover the bottom of release container
MASS RELEASE OF EARWIGS

29,030 PREDATORS RELEASED

Parasitoids of the Brontispa
longissima
 What are Parasitoids?

Organisms that spend its life history on or within a single

host organisms, which ultimately kills the host

Immature parasitoid feeds on body fluids and organs of

the hosts pest and eventually leaving the host to pupate or
emerge as an adult.

Adult parasitoids are free living and may be predaceous

Most insect parasitoid only attack a particular life stage

of one or several related species

Wasps, flies
 Parasitoid Parasite
 Immature life stages  Parasite and host live
develop on or within the side by side without
host lethal damage to the host

 Normally kills the host  Typically, the parasite

takes enough nutrients
to thrive without
preventing the host from
Example: WASPS reproducing

 Does not kill the host

Example: ASCARIS
How do parasitoids kill the host ?

Adult female parasitoid lay their egg on

or inside the host
After hatching, parasitoid larva begins
feeding on its host body fluids
When fully fed mature larva spins
cocoon and pupates either internally or
externally
The adult parasitoid emerges from its
pupal stage to feed, mate and (if female)
locate for hosts to continue its life cycle
What do adult parasitoid eat?

Feed on sugar, nectar of flowers,

honeydew of aphids

The adults with access to sugar and

nectars, generally - live longer, female
lays more eggs and allows them to
parasitize more hosts.
How do Parasitoids find their hosts ?

Many parasitoids find their host by smell

Detect direct odor of host itself or odor

associated with host activity (plant damage,
Caterpillar frass)

They learn & remember these associations,

which makes them efficient in finding hosts
 Types of Parasitoids
Endoparasitoids
immature parasitoids develop inside the
host body
Ectoparasitoids
Immature parasitoids develop outside the
host body, though they are frequently
attached or embedded in the hosts tissues
Hyperparasitoids (secondary parasitoids)
Are parasitoids of the parasitoids, non-
beneficial parasitoids
Both host and the primary parasitoids are
killed
Solitary Parasitoid

One parasitoid develops and emerges

from a host (Haeckeliana brontispae , an
egg parasitoid of Brontispa)

Gregarious Parasitoid

Many parasitoids develop and emerge

from a host (Tetrastichus brontispae, a
pupal parasitoid of Brontispa)
Host Stages Attack by Parasitoids

Egg parasitoid - attacked eggs and

emerged from host eggs

Larval parasitoid - attacked larvae and

emerged from host larva

Larval - pupal parasitoid - attacked larvae

and emerged from host pupa

Pupal Parasitoids - attacked pupae and

emerged from host pupa
Why are parasitoids important?

Pest management with parasitoids is less

expensive, no environmental hazards
Can suppress pest infestation below economic
damage level
Reduce the population of pests surviving to
the next generation
Compatible with other biological control
agents (pathogens & predators)
Are host specific - attack only target pests
and some related pests and/or hosts stages
Efficient searching ability
 Characteristics of a Potential Parasitoids

High reproductive rate - rapid increase of

population when hosts are available
Good searching ability - effective at searching
its host and it should be searching for only one or a
few host species
Host specificity
Be adaptable to different environmental
conditions
Be synchronized its host pest
 Factors Affecting Efficiency of
Parasitoids
a) Climate – prolong cold (winter affects survival)

b) Pesticide Susceptibility
 Often more susceptible to chemicals than predator
 Adult parasitoids more susceptible than their host
 Immature parasitoids may tolerate pesticides better
than adults
 But immature parasitoids usually die when their host
is killed

c) Wind – strong wind

 Biological Control Using Parasitoids

Augmentation

1.Involves the supplemental releases of natural

enemies (parasitoids)

 INOCULATIVE RELEASE - relatively few

natural enemy may be released at a critical
time of the season, Ex. Periodic release of
parasitoid to control greenhouse pests.
INUNDATIVE RELEASE – involves millions
of parasitoid release, Ex. Large number of
parasitoid release to control plantation crop
pests (Trichogramma in corn)

2.Habitat or environmental manipulation

 Involves altering cropping system to

augment or enhance effectiveness of
parasitoids
 Mixed plantings (leguminous crops and
covercrops), provision of flowering
borders to increase diversity of habitats
and provide shelter & alternative food
(nectar)
 Reported Parasitoids of Brontispa longissima
Gestro (Rethinam and Singh, 2005)
Species Reported Remarks and References
(Order : Family) Location
Egg parasitoids Java,
Hispidophila Indonesia Described in 1913, one egg; parasitized 15
(Haeckeliana) percent eggs in the field (Kalshoven 1981).
brontispae Ferriere
(Hymenoptera:
Trichogrammatidae)
Ooencyrtus Java, Parasitized 10 percent eggs (Kalshoven
podontiae Indonesia 1981). In 1941, Brontispa eggs, parasitized
Gahan (Hymenoptera by Ooencyrtus were introduced from
: Encyrtidae) Bogor. Introduced to several countries for
evaluation, recorded in Malaysia.

Trichorammatoidea Java, Described in 1986, a successful egg

nana Zehntner Indonesia parasitoid of Brontispa and several other
(Hymenoptera : coconut pests. Native to Java (Indonesia);
Trichogrammatidae) introduce to Fiji, Papua New Guinea and
Solomon Islands.
 Reported Parasitoids of Brontispa longissima
Gestro (Rethinam and Singh, 2005)
Species Reported Remarks and References
(Order : Family) Location
Larval/pupal Java,
parasitoids Indonesia Found in 60-90 percent of the
Tetrastichus brontispae pupae and 10 percent of the larvae
Ferriere (Kalshoven 1981). Considered a
(Hymenoptera : most effective species, widely
Eulophidae) introduced in the Pacific Islands for
the control of Brontispa.
Asecodes hispinarum Samoa Widely used larval parasitoid of
Boucek (Hymenoptera : Brontispa, collected from Samoa
Eulohidae) and released in Nauru, Thailand,
Vietnam and Maldives.
Chrysonotomyia sp. Samoa The most important cause of larval
mortality, parasitizing 75 percent of
the 4th instar larvae collected from
Samoa.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL STUDIES USING
EGG PARASITOID, Haeckeliana sp.
• A solitary egg parasitoid, one
parasitoid develops and emerges
from one host egg

• About 20 days life cycle

• Parasitized egg has a depression

and appears hollowed after a
week compared to the rounded
and full normal one and the rim
of the former is darker in color.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL STUDIES USING
EGG PARASITOID, Haeckeliana sp.

• Exit hole on egg (arrow) of the

Brontispa where adult
Haeckeliana sp. emerged

• minute egg parasitoid adult

ovipositing on the egg of B.
longissima
 MASS PRODUCTION OF THE
EGG PARASITOID , Haeckeliana sp.

• A chamber where adult egg

parasitoids (Haeckeliana sp.) from
stock are released and the eggs of
Brontispa longissima are exposed
for parasitization

Egg Parasitoid Laboratory

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL STUDIES USING PUPAL
PARASITOID, Tetrastichus sp. (A WASP)
Adult wasps

Egg
Parasitizing Brontispa pupa
Pupae
Pupae

Pupae

Larvae

• A gregarious parasitoid, many parasitoids develop and emerge from

a host pupa
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL STUDIES USING PUPAL
PARASITOID, Tetrastichus sp. (A WASP)

• Parasitoid adult emerged from 12 to 16 days

(15 days ave.) after adult introduction to
pupae for parasitization
• An average of 2 exit holes (range from 1-9
holes)
• Laboratory cultured parasitoid :
Exit hole  DRC 6-66 adults (22.4 mean) emerged
from one host pupa
 ARC – 5-25 adults (20 mean)
• Sex ratio : 1:3.23 (M and F) for laboratory
cultured and 1:3.71 for field collected
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL STUDIES USING PUPAL
PARASITOID, Tetrastichus sp. (A WASP)
• To effect parasitization under laboratory
condition, a ratio of 1:5 host parasitoid
combination was found to be the minimum
ratio. Although, a higher ratio resulted in a
higher parasitization rate

• One day exposure was sufficient to

parasitize young pupa by the parasitoid,
but longer exposure periods also resulted
to higher parasitization

• The parasitoids are able to parasitize more

pupae up to 5 days
MASS PRODUCTION OF THE PUPAL
PARASITOID , Tetrastichus sp.

• A protocol on mass rearing

techniques of the Brontispa, as
host and the pupal parasitoid
was developed.

• As of June 2011, 789,472 adult

wasps or 35,885 mummies
were reared (DRC) and
released for control of
Brontispa (Reg. VI-A, V, VI,
VII, VIII, IX, X, XI & XII).
Bulk of releases were done in
Region XI.
Technology Adoption – Farm Level Production of
Brontispa Parasitoid

• A trained coconut farmer from

Padada, Davao del Sur is
supported by the Barangay in the
mass production of the pupal
parasitoid and now selling at P
5.00/ mummy to other coconut
farmers to control Brontispa
infestation

• As of June 2011 (one year and a

half), had generated Php 67,315
from sales of mummies
 Use 75 %

Us
e2
Combine 1st Parasitized

5%
& 2nd , 3rd & Pupa
4th Larval
Instars`
Release of
Parasitoids
Use
Cut Leaf Strips 75 %
that Contain Use 75% for
the Eggs parasitization, Parasitization Emerging
25% for adult Parasitoids
production
%
25
se
U

Adult Rearing
Jars
 EFFECT OF PARASITOID,Tetrastichus sp.
RELEASE ON BEARING COCONUT PALM

BEFORE 4 MO. AFTER 12 MO. AFTER

• Brontispa-infested palm released with pupal parasitoids

showed new undamaged emerging fronds after four and 12
months
It’s our best food
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