A network that helps people worldwide obtain rapid advice and information on crop protection, including the identification and management of plant pests.
PestNet is a network that helps people worldwide obtain rapid advice and information on crop protection, including the identification and management of plant pests. It started in 1999. Anyone with an interest in plant protection is welcome to join. PestNet is free and is moderated, ensuring that messages are confined to plant protection.
Crops > Plantation crops > Coconut & oil palm > Insects > Acria or Agonoxena, Sabah, Malaysia
October 2007. A problem has occurred in Sabah, Malaysia, with an outbreak of caterpillars in oil palm. The damage is on the lower fronds, so it is difficult to control using trunk injections with systemic chemicals, which are only effective for middle and upper fronds. It was doubtful that it was Opisina sp.
There were two suggestions: Agonoxenaargaula (coconut flat moth), although Acria sp. was also suggested from similarity to a pest of oil palm in India. Images of Agonoxena argaula taken on Rarotonga, Cook Islands, were sent for comparison (lower, right).
