Ecological Studies on Pteroma Pendula Joannis and Metisa Plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) Towards Improved Integrated Management of Infestations in Oil Palm
Pteroma pendula Joannis and Metisa plana Walker are important pests of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacquin, which is the primary agricultural crop of Malaysia. Although there is a history of the integrated management of the bagworms, information gaps exist with regard to their incidence, biolo...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2002
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/10611/1/FP_2002_26.pdf |
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| Summary: | Pteroma pendula Joannis and Metisa plana Walker are important pests of the
oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacquin, which is the primary agricultural crop of
Malaysia. Although there is a history of the integrated management of the
bagworms, information gaps exist with regard to their incidence, biology,
dispersion and population dynamics. Work of this thesis was aimed at
overcoming these deficiencies and using the new information to improve
integrated management of the pests.
Analysis of historical records of bagworm infestations over 63,955 ha of oil
palms in 69 estates in Peninsular Malaysia showed P. pendula and M plana to
be the primary pests. Infestations were single species or mixed and ranged
from nil to 7,8 11 ha per year. Cumulative infestation was 1 8,297 ha, 4,904 ha
and 14,607 ha for single species P. pendula, M plana and mixed species P.
pendula and M plana respectively. This showed P. pendula to be the predominant species. This was attributed to greater intrinsic rate of population
increase, fm, and finite rate of population increase, A, for the species as well as
its ability to survive very wet weather. Lower energy requirement for
completion of life cycle and likewise propensity to balloon (which otherwise
predisposed wash-off by rain) were established as reasons for this.
Synchrony of P. pendula and M plana populations within and across estates
was verified. Rainfall was indicated to be the primary factor synchronizing
bagworm populations, particularly over wide areas, through their deleterious
effects on survivorship of the pests. Short adult life span and overlapping if not
synchronous emergence of males and females, pheromone-based male
attraction to apterous females, regular dispersion of populations and natural
enemies were postulated as other factors. |
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