Vientiane - If you look up to the crown of the majestic palms dotted around the capital Vientiane, you may notice that many have dried up leaves and a 'crab-like' deformation of the leave spears. This is a result of the coconut leaf beetle (Brontispa longissima) steadily spreading throughout districts and central provinces in Lao PDR in recent years.

The damage causes serious reduction in nut yield and trees may even die.

The first beetle outbreaks were reported in Sepone district, Savannakhet in 2004. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) acted rapidly to request assistance from FAO's Vegetable Integrated Pest Management Programme (IPM).

"The assistance focused on support for immediate field-level intervention through the introduction of a larval parasitoid, the tiny wasp (Asecodes hispinarum), imported from Viet Nam and released at selected coconut leaf beetle infested locations in Savannakhet province," says Thongsavanh Taipangnavong, National IPM Expert.

"Provincial and district level government staff were trained in parasitoid rearing, releases and follow-up field monitoring," he adds.

The FAO-IPM office in Vientiane has now produced posters and brochures in Lao language aimed at further awareness raising to avoid spread and manage the beetle. This public information material will be distributed en masse to local district agricultural offices and local community centers.

The beetle, unintentionally introduced from Viet Nam, is easily spread on green coconut and other ornamental palm seedlings and - unless its spread is contained - may quickly spread and cause damage nationwide in the near future.

"Through its Integrated Pest Management programmes, FAO intends to continue technical support to the ministry aimed at containing the spread and managing the coconut leaf beetles in the future. Emphasis will be on awareness raising activities and capacity building for prevention of further spread of the beetle as well as exploring alternative management options including the potential use of other predators and parasitoids," stresses Mr Taipangnavong.

Press release issued by the office of the FAO Representative in Lao PDR. Contact Siena Perry at [email protected] or Larissa Bruun at [email protected]