The control of the coconut pest Melittomma insulare (Coleoptera, Lymexylidae) in Seychelles.

Extract

The larvae of the Lymexylid beetle, Melittomma insulare Fairm., bore into the bases of coconut palms. Associated with them are micro-organisms which cause extensive rotting of the bole, particularly at ground-level, and this results in the palm falling.

During 1953–58, an attempt was made in Praslin Island, Seychelles, to obtain maximum control of this pest using paradichlorobenzene as a fumigant. At the time of this treatment, 77 per cent, of the 90,500 coconut palms in the island were infested. Of these, about five per cent, were felled as worthless mountainside palms and nine per cent, fell during or within a week of treatment.

In 1960 it was found that a further 15 per cent, of the palms had fallen and of those still standing 53 per cent, remained infested. The continuing high loss of palms after treatment was due to the closed, moist fumigation chambers within the trunks encouraging the spread of rot, coupled with an incomplete kill of larvae.

A new method of treatment is described in which the necrotic wood is excised and a formulation of coal tar creosote and coal tar liberally applied. Praslin Island was retreated, using this tar method, and a plan to treat all the coconut palms in Mahé, the main island of the group, was subsequently commenced. Losses of palms during and within a week of treatment have been reduced to less than one per cent., and results are quoted which show that a single treatment can reduce a serious infestation in which 80 per cent, of palms are more or less heavily attacked to one in which only 18 per cent, of the palms are attacked and, on average, contain only five larvae. The treatment ensures that the entrances to the tunnels of these are exposed to view, and accordingly the surviving larvae can easily be killed.