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Oryctes rhinoceros (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) populations suppressed by a baculovirus

1992; Elsevier BV; Volume: 59; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0022-2011(92)90112-h

1096-0805

B. Zelazny, A. Lolong, B. Pattang,

Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control

Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) breeding sites and damage to coconut palms (Cocos nucifera L.) were surveyed in the Republic of the Maldives before and after the introduction of a baculovirus disease and in untreated areas of the Indonesian provinces of North and South Sulawesi. The results and those of previous surveys showed that the baculovirus disease usually has little influence on the overall survival rate of O. rhinoceros larvae, but that it reduces dramatically the average life span of the adult beetles. This and the ability of the virus disease to persist at low host densities are the main reasons for its success as a microbial control agent. The data provide additional evidence that the presence of a low number of dead standing palms per hectare promotes the spread of the virus disease because these are highly attractive to adult beetles. It is concluded from the results that in areas where the baculovirus is indigenous, control methods should be directed against the larval population of O. rhinoceros.