RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 23 (2) August 2011, p. 1040-1050

INFESTATIONS BY THE BAGWORMS Metisa plana AND Pteroma pendula FOR THE PERIOD 1986-2000 IN MAJOR OIL PALM ESTATES MANAGED BY GOLDEN HOPE PLANTATION BERHAD IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

HO Cheng Tuck* ; YUSOF Ibrahim** ; KHOO Khay Chong*

ABSTRACT

Metisa plana Walker and Pteroma pendula Joannis are important pests of the oil palm, Elaeis guineensis Jacquin, which is the primary agricultural crop in Malaysia. Although there is a history of integrated management of the bagworms, information gaps exist with regard to their incidence, biology, dispersion and population dynamics. Such new information is needed to improve the current integrated management of these pests. Analysis of historical records of bagworm infestations over 63 955 ha of oil palm in 69 estates in Peninsular Malaysia showed M. plana and P. pendula to be the primary pests. Infestations were of single or mixed species, and ranged from nil to 7811 ha yr-1. Cumulative infestations were 18 297 ha, 4904 ha and 14 607 ha for single species of P. pendula and M. plana, and for mixed species of P. pendula and M. plana, respectively. This shows P. pendula to be the predominant species, and is attributed to its ability to survive very wet weather (>200 mm rain per month) and its propensity to balloon compared to M. plana, which is predisposed to wash-off by rain.

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* CABI Southeast and East Asia Regional Centre,
P. O. Box 210, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

** Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education,
Sultan Idris Education University,
35900 Tanjong Malim, Perak, Malaysia.
E-mail: yusofib@yahoo.com