BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Government coconut authorities have joined coconut growers and farmers in stopping the attack of coconut leaf beetle.

The officials and technical staff of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in the Caraga region were mobilized early this week to fight the beetle, scientifically known as “Brontispa longissima,” an invasive coconut-infesting pest resulting to a significant loss of income to the coco farmers.

Brontispa is a flat and slender beetle. Its color is generally black except for the yellow-orange to red color of the neck and the basal portion of wing and generally measures one centimeter long. It feeds on the soft tissues of coconut fronds enough to kill the coconut and it is rapidly spreading in the country.

It is believed that the beetle reached the Philippines in early 2004 through the importation of ornamental palms. The young leaves of infested coconuts appear burned or scorched resulting from the feeding damage of the coconut leaf beetle.

It also attacks seedlings and mature coconut trees and ornamental palms, killing the young spears. If left unchecked the whole tree will die in a span of more or less than a year.

To address the infestation, a team from the PCA-13 led by Technical Staff Lourdito Sabanpan was dispatched to Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte.

There is no report that the infestation has reached Surigao del Norte and island municipalities such as Siargao and Dinagat Islands, Sabanpan said in a press statement released by PCA-13 on Friday.

There are 2,205 non-bearing and 894 bearing coconut trees infested with Bronstispa in the whole region.

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region) has a total of 28,057,605 standing coconut trees, based on the latest data.

PCA-13 is introducing three ways to control the pest. The infestation might be controlled through the mechanical means such as pruning, clean culture and proper disposal of infested coco trees or parts or by chemical means through the use of insecticide.