Evaluation Of Several Chemical Control Approaches Against Bagworm, Metisa Plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) In Felda Oil Palm Plantations
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Date
2010-04
Authors
Salim, Hasber
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
In oil palm plantations chemical control is still the principal means of reducing pest
numbers when their population levels are high. In this study, a series of field trials
investigating the efficacy of several application techniques for insecticides against
bagworm, Metisa plana, were carried out in oil palm plantations. The efficacy of the
ground spraying technique for four insecticides (trichorfon, lambda cyahothrin,
cypermethrin EC and cypermethrin EW) as well as a bio insecticide, Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt), was investigated upon 5 year-old palms in FELDA Besout 06. In
general, each insecticide provided satisfactory control against M. plana, and pest
populations were reduced to below the economic threshold level (< 5 larvae/frond).
Cypermethrin was the most effective treatment, whereas bio insecticide treatment
was the least effective. While ground spraying was effective against M. plana in this
study, this technique was not suitable for controlling a large-scale bagworm
outbreaks due to its low productivity and small area coverage. As an alternative, the
bio insecticide, Bacillus thringiensis subspecies kurstaki (Btk), was applied by using
an aerial spraying technique and its efficacy assessed. Three dosages (1 L/ha, 2 L/ha
and 3 L/ha) of commercially formulated Btk were tested in areas of high M. plana
infestation in FELDA Besout 02. However, the treatment was not as effective as the
chemical insecticides (P > 0.05), even at the highest dosage. Further efficacy
assessments were carried out using a trunk injection technique for systemic
insecticides methamidophos and monocrotophos, in mature palms in FELDA Besout
06. The results showed that both insecticides were highly effective (P<0.05) against
M. plana, with the pest populations eradicated following a single application. No
significant difference in effectiveness of methamidophos and monocrotophos was
detected at P = 0.05. The results also showed that M. plana populations were
susceptible to these insecticides with no increase of previously used dosages,
indicating that although they have been used in the field for a long time, the pests
have not developed resistance to them. The trunk injection technique has proven to
be the most suitable technique to control large-scale bagworm outbreaks in mature
oil palm plantations.
Description
Keywords
The efficacy of several application techniques , for insecticides against bagworm