Integrated Pest Management of Oryctes Monoceros, Rhynchophorus Phoenicis and Latoia Viridissima in Okomu Oil Palm Plantation, Nigeria

Four, 5-litre Bucket traps containing 9mg/day Oryctes monoceros and Rhynchophorus phoenicis pheromone enhanced with pineapple, impregnated with 20ml of insecticide (Lambdacyhalothrin 2.5 EC) and a control bucket, (without pheromone, pineapple and insecticide) were set up in Okomu oil palm field. This treatment was also replicated, but altered using banana and cut pieces of palm trunks impregnated with same insecticide at the same rate. Oryctes monoceros pheromone traps similarly enhanced, caught 24 weevils while Rhynchophorus phoenicis pheromone traps caught 192 weevils. The trap without pheromone caught nothing. The insects trapped in the pheromone enhanced with pineapple treatment were significantly higher (P < 0.05), implying that this treatment was most effective in attracting O. monoceros. In the pheromone traps for R. phoenicis, all the treatments (P < 0.05) were effective in attracting R. phoenicis. Traps containing Pheromone + Pineapple + Insecticide + Water recorded highest number of weevils. Microbial Culture of dead Latoia viridissima identified major entomopathogens. This study confirms that pheromone trapping enhanced with fruit substrates are effective in protection of palms from damage caused by Oryctes monoceros and Rhynchophorus phoenicis in Nigeria. This is with least effects on non-target organisms, like useful beneficial insect pollinators and predators. The study identified Penicilium and Aspergillus sp, as major entomopathogens of latoia viridissima and could serve as control agents.