|
Officials of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in the
Bohol have expressed alarm of reports of the sightings of
the coconut leaf beetle in the province.
The
coconut leaf beetle (brontispa longisima) is a pest that is
harmful to the coconut.
PCA
authorities said they have monitored the beetle's presence
in at least three towns that have affected coconut trees in
the said places. These are the towns of Baclayon, Dauis and
Alburquerque.
In
Baclayon, about 800 trees have been afflicted with the pests
particularly in barangays Laya and Cambanac.
|
|
|
About
50 trees have been affected in Dauis. There are no figures
available yet about the beetle intrusion in Bilar.
The
adult beetle and its larva stay between unopened leaflets
of young coconut spears and feed on the soft tissue,
causing decay and drying of affected parts, which prevents
the tree from bearing fruit.
Agriculture
and coconut authorities in the province advised coconut
farmers to report immediately any sign of the beetle's
presence in their respective localities.
|
The
onslaught of the brontispa longisima has also alarmed other
provinces in the Visayas. The coconut leaf beetle has destroyed
coconut trees in some parts of Luzon and is now seen as a
threat in the Visayas region.
Officials
in Western Visayas as well as in Negros Oriental urged the
residents to be vigilant considering that coconut is one of
the main sources of livelihood in these places.
The
Bureau of Plant Industry and the PCA have started conducting
quarantine checkpoints to prevent the entry of the beetle
through the airports and seaports.
|
