Ecology, invasion history and biodiversity-driven management of the coconut black-headed caterpillar Opisina arenosella in Asia

Hui Lu; Baoqian Lyu; Jihong Tang; Qiqi Wu; Kris A G Wyckhuys; Khac Hoang Le; Patchareewan Chongchitmate; Haiyan Qiu; Qikai Zhang

doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1116221

Ecology, invasion history and biodiversity-driven management of the coconut black-headed caterpillar Opisina arenosella in Asia

Front Plant Sci. 2023 Mar 27:14:1116221. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1116221. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Hui Lu^{1

2}, Baoqian Lyu^{1

2}, Jihong Tang^{1

2}, Qiqi Wu^{1

2}, Kris A G Wyckhuys^{3

4

5}, Khac Hoang Le⁶, Patchareewan Chongchitmate⁷, Haiyan Qiu^{1

2}, Qikai Zhang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Haikou, China.
² Sanya Research Academy, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agriculture Science, Hainan Key Laboratory for Biosafety Monitoring and Molecular Breeding in Off-Season Reproduction Regions, Sanya, Hainan, China.
³ School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
⁴ Institute for Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, China.
⁵ Chrysalis Consulting, Danang, Vietnam.
⁶ Plant Protection Department, Agronomy Faculty, Nong Lam University, Hochiminh City, Vietnam.
⁷ Plant Protection Research and Development Office, Department of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Abstract

The coconut black-headed caterpillar (BHC), Opisina arenosella Walker (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae) is an important herbivore of palm trees that originates in South Asia. Over the past decades, O. arenosella has spread to several countries in Eastern and Southeast Asia. BHC larval feeding can cause severe defoliation and occasional plant death, resulting in direct production losses (e.g., for coconut) while degrading the aesthetic value of urban and rural landscapes. In this review paper, we systematically cover taxonomy, bio-ecology, invasion history and current management of O. arenosella throughout Asia. Given that O. arenosella is routinely controlled with insecticides, we equally explore options for more sustainable management through agroecological and biodiversity-based tactics e.g., cultural control or biological control. Also, recent advances in chemical ecology have unlocked lucrative opportunities for volatile-mediated monitoring, mating disruption and mass-trapping. Substantial progress has been made in augmentation biological control, with scheduled releases of laboratory-reared parasitoids lowering BHC infestation pressure up to 95%. Equally, resident ants provide 75-98% mortality of BHC egg masses within the palm canopy. Biological control has been effectively paired with sanitary measures and good agronomy (i.e., proper fertilization, irrigation), and promoted through participatory farmer training programs. Our comprehensive listing of non-chemical preventative and curative tactics offer bright prospects for a more environmentally-sound, biodiversity-driven mitigation of a palm pest of regional allure.

Keywords: agroecology; biological control; coconut black-headed caterpillar; crop protection; ecological intensification; invasion biology; natural enemies.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Innovation Research Team Foundation Program of Hainan Province, China (2019CXTD409), and the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund for China Academy of Tropical Agriculture Sciences (1630042017011).