Coconut Hispine Beatle a Potential Threat to National and International Coconut Industry
Source: Balai Penelitian Tanaman Kelapa dan Palma Lain (BALITKA)
The Coconut Hispine Beatle (Brontisa longgissima) becomes a potential threat to national and international coconut industry. Severe attack of this pest can lead to lower production by 50% and the death of young palms of about 5%. 
B. longgissima is native to Indonesia and firstly reported from Aru Island (MalukuProvince) and probably Papua Province and Papua New Guinea in 1885. In recent years the occurrence of this pest has been more intensive than previously reported because almost every province and some countries of Asia and Pacific have reported the damage and losses of coconut productivity caused by B. longissima. B. longgissima could attack all developmental stages of coconut palm, lead to both lower coconut production and death of the palms. Loss in coconut production can reach 50% and mortality of young palms is about 5 % as occured in Inobonto village of Bolaang Mongondow district, North Sulawesi. The pest has other host plants such as Areca nut palm, sago palms, California fan palm, Mexican Fan Palm, Whingtonia robusta, Chinese Fan Palm, Livistona chinesis, Fox tail palm, Alexandar Palm, Phoenix roebelenii, Nipa Palm , Oil palm, Elaeis guneesis, Nicobar palm, Carpentaria Palm.
In Australia, this pest could attack 27 palms species including exotic palms (Singh and Rethinam, 2005). Both adults and larvae of the beetle attack the young, unopened leaves of coconut palm and feed on leaf tissues. Prolonged attack may result in burned appearance of coconut crown and death of the tree. Some success has been reported through biological control using natural enemies such as larval parasitoid Asechodes hispinarum and pupal parasitoid Tetrasticus brontispae, entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae and predator Celisoches morio.
Research collaboration between Indonesian coconut and other palms reserach institute (ICOPRI) and other estate agencies of Central Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara Timur Provinces have been done to control the pest. In 2007, ICOPRI has found a new potential natural enemy identified as bacterium Serratia spp. Pest control technology has been disseminated by ICOPRI, either in the form of technical publications or training for technical staff from some provinces of Indonesia. For further information, please contact ICOPRI Manado through Phone 0431-812340, Fax. 0431-812017. email: balitka05@yahoo.com
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