Environmental factors which influence bagworm outbreak

Cheong Y. L., . and Tey C. C., . (2013) Environmental factors which influence bagworm outbreak. [Proceedings Paper]

Bagworm Lepidoptera: Psychidae is an indigenous insect which has become a serious pest of oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacq. in Malaysia since the 1970s. The three most common bagworm species associated with oil palm are Metisa plana Pteroma pendula and Mahasena corbetti. These insect species do not have specific breeding season and they can reproduce throughout the year. The life cycles of P. pendula M. plana and M. corbetti are about 48-50 days 92-97 days and 110-140 days respectively. The relatively short life cycles coupled with the high fecundity of these bagworm species have enabled them to adapt successfully to oil palm and become the major leaf defoliator pests which are evident concurrently with the large scale expansion of the crop in Malaysia and Indonesia. Extensive monoculture planting and the perennial nature of oil palm have provided continuous supply of food sources and ideal habitat for the development and multiplication of these pest species. In addition climatic factors which favour the pest outbreaks that disrupt the predator-prey equilibrium the presence of alternate host plants and human activities are factors which could affect the pest population and influence the severity of outbreaks of bagworms. In this paper the biotic and abiotic factors which affect the development and spread of the pests are highlighted and measures to mitigate the problem are discussed.

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Abstract

Bagworm Lepidoptera: Psychidae is an indigenous insect which has become a serious pest of oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacq. in Malaysia since the 1970s. The three most common bagworm species associated with oil palm are Metisa plana Pteroma pendula and Mahasena corbetti. These insect species do not have specific breeding season and they can reproduce throughout the year. The life cycles of P. pendula M. plana and M. corbetti are about 48-50 days 92-97 days and 110-140 days respectively. The relatively short life cycles coupled with the high fecundity of these bagworm species have enabled them to adapt successfully to oil palm and become the major leaf defoliator pests which are evident concurrently with the large scale expansion of the crop in Malaysia and Indonesia. Extensive monoculture planting and the perennial nature of oil palm have provided continuous supply of food sources and ideal habitat for the development and multiplication of these pest species. In addition climatic factors which favour the pest outbreaks that disrupt the predator-prey equilibrium the presence of alternate host plants and human activities are factors which could affect the pest population and influence the severity of outbreaks of bagworms. In this paper the biotic and abiotic factors which affect the development and spread of the pests are highlighted and measures to mitigate the problem are discussed.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia. SB608 O27M939 2013 Call Number.
AGROVOC Term:	Lepidoptera
AGROVOC Term:	Psychidae
AGROVOC Term:	Disease outbreak
AGROVOC Term:	Infestation
AGROVOC Term:	Oil palm
AGROVOC Term:	Elaeis guineensis
AGROVOC Term:	Indigenous species
AGROVOC Term:	Pest insects
AGROVOC Term:	Environmental factors
AGROVOC Term:	Climatic factors
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:15
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/13200

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