Biodiversity capacity building in Papua New Guinea and sustainable

development of its primary industries

INSECT DIAGNOSTICS WORKSHOP

23 - 27 May 2016

PORT MORESBY

Supplementary materials on Insect Pests

Insect pests in Papua New Guinea ......................................................................................... 1

Fact sheets for important insect pests and beneficials in Papua New Guinea ...... 9
Pacific Pests and Pathogens – How to Use the App........................................................ 30
Plant Health Clinics in the Pacific ........................................................................................ 32

For further information contact and join PestNet:

https://www.pestnet.org

https://www.facebook.com/PestNet

grahame@pestnet.org
Insect pests in Papua New Guinea
These tables comprise important insect pests in agriculture and forestry for Papua New Guinea and
have been compiled from the publication by Waterhouse (1997), titled The Major Invertebrate Pests
and Weeds of Agriculture and Plantation Forestry in the Southern and Western Pacific. This
publication sought to bring together all the important pests for the Pacific region in order to
determine appropriate target subjects for biological control so as to best assist the region in control
of pests. As most of the problem pests in the region and in Papua New Guinea are introduced then
they are also likely suitable to be investigated for possible biocontrol agents.

The information was compiled by country and pests were placed in four categories as follows:

 +++ very widespread and very important

 ++ widespread and important
 + important locally
 P present, but not an important pest

These tables present the insect pests for PNG in the top two categories, their Order and Family and
the crops that they affect. The last column indicates whether a PestNet information factsheet is
available for that pest, and these are accessible here:

http://www.pestnet.org/

Insects comprise all of the top 10 invertebrate pests of agriculture in PNG.

Some of these pests may now not be such as issue due to an effective biocontrol being introduced
and there may also be new serious pest emergences in PNG which are not included, for example the
cocoa pod borer.

Tables included
Table 1: Top 10 invertebrate pests of agriculture in PNG (are all insects)

Table 2: Major insect pests of agriculture in PNG: widespread and important (++)

Table 3: Major insect pests of agriculture in PNG: very widespread and important (+++)

Table 4: Major insect pests of forestry in PNG: widespread and important (++)

Table 5: Major insect pests of forestry in PNG: very widespread and important (+++)

Reference
Waterhouse, D.F. 1997. The major invertebrate pests and weeds of agriculture and plantation
forestry in the southern and western Pacific. ACIAR Monograph No. 44, 99p.

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Table 1: Top 10 invertebrate pests of agriculture in PNG*

Species English common name Family Order Principal crops attacked

Papuana spp. Taro beetle Scarabaeidae Coleoptera Taro, sweet potato, oil palm, banana
Bactrocera spp. Fruit fly Tephritidae Diptera Most fruit, some vegetables
Scapanes australis Scapanes Scarabaeidae Coleoptera Coconut, palms
Oribius spp. Shot hole weevils Curculionidae Coleoptera Horticultural crops
Cylas formicarius Sweet potato weevil Apionidae Coleoptera Sweet potato
Plutella xylostella Diamondback cabbage moth Yponomeutidae Lepidoptera Crucifers
Pseudodoniella pacifica Cocoa mirid Miridae Hemiptera Cocoa
Pantorhytes sp. Cocoa weevils Curculionidae Coleoptera Cocoa
Epilachna spp. Leaf-eating ladybirds Coccinellidae Coleoptera Legumes, cucurbits, Solanaceae
Riptortus spp. Bean pod suckers Coreidae Hemiptera Beans, legumes
* These species are all listed in the below tables

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Table 2: Major insect pests of agriculture in PNG: widespread and important (++)

Species English common name Family Order Principal crops attacked PestNet
Factsheet
Acria sp. Oil palm webworm Xylorictidae Lepidoptera Oil palm
Agrotis ipsilon Greasy cutworm, black cutworm Noctuidae Lepidoptera Polyphagous
Aleurodicus dispersus Spiraling whitefly Aleyrodidae Hemiptera Papaya, guava, polyphagous Yes
Amblypelta cocophaga Fruit spotting bug Coreidae Hemiptera Coconut, cacao, rubber, cassava, mango, papaya Yes
Aonidiella aurantii California redscale Diaspididae Hemiptera Citrus, breadfruit, coconut, banana, papaya
Aphis craccivora Cowpea aphid Aphididae Hemiptera Legumes, citrus, mango, breadfruit Yes
Austracis spp. Grasshoppers Acrididae Orthoptera Polyphagous
Baeturia papuensis Grass cicada Cicadidae Hemiptera Sugarcane roots, coffee
Bruchophagus muli Lime gall wasp Eurytomidae Hymenoptera Citrus
Ceroplastes rubens Pink wax scale Coccidae Hemiptera Citrus, polyphagous
Cosmopolites sordidus Banana weevil borer Curculionidae Coleoptera Banana, sugarcane Yes
Dermolepida nigrum - Scarabaeidae Coleoptera Banana leaves
Epilachna spp. Leaf-eating ladybirds Coccinellidae Coleoptera Legumes, cucurbits, Solanaceae Yes
Erionota thrax Banana skipper Hesperiidae Lepidoptera Banana Yes
Eurycantha sp. Oil palm stick insect Phasmatidae Orthoptera Oil palm
Helicoverpa (=Heliothis) armigera Cotton ballworm, corn earworm Noctuidae Lepidoptera Polyphagous Yes
Hellula spp. Cabbage centre grubs Pyralidae Lepidoptera Brassicas Yes
Hippotion celerio Taro hawkmoth Sphingidae Lepidoptera Taro, sweet potato, tobacco Yes
Lepidiota reuleauxi White grub Scarabaeidae Coleoptera Sugarcane roots
Leucoptera spp. Winged bean, blotch miner Lyonetiidae Lepidoptera Beans
Lipaphis erysimi Mustard aphid Aphididae Hemiptera Cabbage, tomato, radish Yes
Mahasena corbetti Rough bugworm Psychidae Lepidoptera Oil palm
Myzus persicae Green peach aphid Aphididae Hemiptera Polyphagous Yes
Nacoleia (=Lamprosema) octasema Banana scab moth Pyralidae Lepidoptera Banana, pandanus Yes

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Table 2 (continued): Major insect pests of agriculture in PNG: widespread and important (++)

Species English common name Family Order Principal crops attacked PestNet
Factsheet
Nezara viridula Green vegetable bug Pentatomidae Hemiptera Vegetables Yes
Nilaparvata lugens Brown planthopper Delphacidae Hemiptera Rice Yes
Ophiomyia phaseoli Bean fly Agromyzidae Diptera Beans
Pansepta teleturga Cocoa webworm Oecophoridae Lepidoptera Cocoa
Rhyparidella sobrina Banana scarring beetle Chrysomelidae Coleoptera Banana
Scirpophaga excerptalis Tip shoot borer Pyralidae Lepidoptera Mature sugarcane
Selenothrips rubrocinctus Red banded thrips Thripidae Thysanoptera Mandarin, mango, cocoa, cashew
Sesamia grisescens Pink stem borer Noctuidae Lepidoptera Rice, sugarcane
Spodoptera exempta Lawn armyworm Noctuidae Lepidoptera Polyphagous
Tarophagus colocasiae Taro plant hopper Delphacidae Hemiptera Taro Yes
Tarophagus persephone Taro plant hopper Delphacidae Hemiptera Taro Yes
Tarophagus proserpina Taro plant hopper Delphacidae Hemiptera Taro Yes
Thosea spp. Cup moth Limacodidae Lepidoptera Polyphagous on tree crops
Tirathaba rufivena Coconut spathe moth Pyralidae Lepidoptera Coconut Yes
Unaspis citri White louse scale, citrus snow scale Diaspididae Hemiptera Citrus Yes

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Table 3: Major insect pests of agriculture in PNG: very widespread and important (+++)

Species English common name Family Order Principal crops attacked PestNet
Factsheet
Amblypelta lutescens Fruit spotting bug Coreidae Hemiptera Coconut, cacao, rubber, cassava,
(=A. papuensis) mango, papaya
Amrasca devastans (=A. biguttula) Cotton leafhopper Coreidae Hemiptera Cotton Yes
Aulacophora spp. Pumpkin beetles Chrysomelidae Coleoptera Cucurbits Yes
Bactrocera spp. Fruit fly Tephritidae Diptera Most fruit, some vegetables Yes
Brontispa longissima Coconut leaf hispa Chrysomelidae Coleoptera Coconut Yes
Chilo terrenellus Sugarcane internode borer Pyralidae Lepidoptera Sugarcane
Coccus celatus Coffee green scale Coccidae Hemiptera Coffee
Coccus viridis Green scale Coccidae Hemiptera Coffee, polyphagous
Crocidolomia pavonana Cabbage cluster caterpillar Pyralidae Lepidoptera Cabbage Yes
(=C. binotalis)
Cylas formicarius Sweet potato weevil Apionidae Coleoptera Sweet potato Yes
Deanolis (=Noorda) albizonalis Red banded mango borer Pyralidae Lepidoptera Mango
Earias vittella (=E. fabia) Rough bollworm, shoot and fruit borer Noctuidae Lepidoptera Aibika, okra Yes
Euscepes postfasciatus* Indian sweet potato weevil Curculionidae Coleoptera Sweet potato Yes
Leptoglossus gonagra Squash bug, leaf-footed plant bug Coreidae Hemiptera Cucurbits, citrus, polyphagous Yes
(= Fabrictilis gonagra)
Halticus tibialis Sweet potato flea mirid Miridae Hemiptera Sweet potato, beans, cucumber Yes
Helopeltis clavifer Cocoa mirid Miridae Hemiptera Cocoa
Heteropsylla cubana** Leucaena psyllid Psyllidae Hemiptera Leucaena
Leptocorisa oratorius - Alydidae Hemiptera Rice
Maruca vitrata (=M. testulalis) Bean podborer Pyralidae Lepidoptera Beans, pigeon pea, cowpea Yes

*Now known to be present – Grahame Jackson (pers. comm.). ** Probably no longer a problem, under biocontrol – Grahame Jackson (pers. comm.).

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Table 3 (continued): Major insect pests of agriculture in PNG: very widespread and important (+++)

Species English common name Family Order Principal crops attacked PestNet
Factsheet
Nisotra spp. Shot hole beetles Chrysomelidae Coleoptera Aibika Yes
Oribius spp. Shot hole weevils Curculionidae Coleoptera Horticultural crops
Ostrinia furnacalis Corn borer Pyralidae Lepidoptera Corn, sorghum, sugarcane, ginger Yes
Pantorhytes sp. Cocoa weevils Curculionidae Coleoptera Cocoa Yes
Papuana spp. Taro beetle Scarabaeidae Coleoptera Taro, sweet potato, oil palm, banana Yes
Pericyma cruegeri Poinciana looper Noctuidae Lepidoptera Poinciana
Phyllocnistis citrella Citrus leaf miner Gracillariidae Lepidoptera Citrus Yes
Plutella xylostella Diamondback cabbage moth Yponomeutidae Lepidoptera Crucifers Yes
Pseudodioniella pacifica Cocoa mirid Miridae Hemiptera Cocoa
Rhabdoscelus obscurus Sugarcane weevil Curculionidae Coleoptera Sugarcane, coconut, banana Yes
Rhynchophorus bilineatus Black palm weevil Curculionidae Coleoptera Coconut
Riptortus spp. Bean pod suckers Coreidae Hemiptera Beans, legumes Yes
Scapanes australis Scapanes Scarabaeidae Coleoptera Coconut, palms Yes
Segestidea spp. Coconut tree hoppers Tettigoniidae Orthoptera Coconut Yes
Spodoptera litura Cluster caterpillar Noctuidae Lepidoptera Cabbage, polyphagous Yes
Haritalodes derogata Aibika (Bele) leafroller Pyralidae Lepidoptera Aibika, okra Yes
(= Sylepta derogata)

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Table 4: Major insect pests of forestry in PNG: widespread and important (++)

Species English common name Family Order Principal trees attacked

Agrilus viridissimus - Buprestidae Coleoptera Terminalia brassii
Ceroplastes rubens Pink wax scale Coccidae Hemiptera Pinus caribaea, Barringtonia
Fabrictilus australis - Coreidae Hemiptera Araucaria, Eucalyptus, Tectona
Hyblaea puera Teak moth Hyblaeidae Lepidoptera Tectona grandis, Spathodea
Lymantria ninayi - Lymantriidae Lepidoptera Pinus patula, P. radiata
Milionia isodoxa - Geometridae Lepidoptera Araucaria cunninghamii
Pternistria levipes - Coreidae Hemiptera Tectona grandis
Pternistria macromera - Coreidae Hemiptera Tectona grandis
Rhyparida coriacea - Chrysomelidae Coleoptera Eucalyptus deglupta
Unaspis citri White louse scale, citrus snow scale Diaspididae Hemiptera Toona australis
Xylotrupes gideon Elephant beetle Scarabaeidae Coleoptera Eucalyptus, Toona, Fraxinus

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Table 5: Major insect pests of forestry in PNG: very widespread and important (+++)

Species English common name Family Order Principal trees attacked

Agrilus opulentus Varicose borer Buprestidae Coleoptera Eucalyptus deglupta
Coptotermes elisae - Rhinotermitidae Isoptera Araucaria cunninghamii, A. hunsteinii
Hylurdrectonus araucariae - Scolytidae Coleoptera Araucaria cunninghamii
Hylurdrectonus pinearis Hoop-pine bark beetle Scolytidae Coleoptera Araucaria cunninghamii
Hyspipyla robusta Cedar shoot caterpillar Pyralidae Lepidoptera Swietenia, Toona, Cedrela
Oribius destructor - Curculionidae Coleoptera Eucalyptus deglupta, Araucaria cunninghamii
Oribius inimicus - Curculionidae Coleoptera Eucalyptus deglupta, Araucaria, Pinus
Platypus jansoni - Platypodidae Coleoptera Agathis, Araucaria
Saissetia coffeae Coffee scale Coccidae Hemiptera Barringtonia
Uraba (=Roeselia) lignifera - Nolidae Lepidoptera Terminalia
Vanapa oberthuri - Curculionidae Coleoptera Araucaria cunninghamii
Xyleborus perforans Island pinhole borer Scolytidae Coleoptera Agathis, Calophyllum, Endospermum, Garcinia, Heritiera, Myristica,
Palaquium, Pinus

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Fact sheets for important insect pests and beneficials in Papua New Guinea
Examples of PestNet Pacific Pests and Pathogens Fact sheets are included here for some of the top
insect pests of concern for Papua New Guinea as classified by Waterhouse (1997) and contained in
the previous lists.

Beneficial insects
Whilst many insects present pest problems for famers and gardeners, other insects may help and
provide complementary solutions to pest control. They are commonly referred to as biocontrol
agents or beneficial insects as they will prey (the larvae and or adults) on insect pests living on crop
plants. Such beneficials include predatory ladybeetles, lacewings and hoverflies, which all feed on
insect pests and should be identified and encouraged to live and reproduce in a healthy crop system.

List of example fact sheets following:

 Bean pod sucking bug (Fact sheet No. 018)

 Cabbage diamond back moth (Fact sheet No. 020)
 Cocoa weevil borer (Fact sheet No. 061)
 Coconut rhinoceros beetle (Fact sheet No. 057)
 Sweetpotato weevil (Fact sheet No. 029)
 Sweet Potato West Indian weevil (Fact sheet No. 119)
 Taro Papuana beetle (Fact sheet No. 030)
 Biocontrols – predatory ladybeetles (Fact sheet No. 083)
 Biocontrols – green lacewings (Fact sheet No. 270)

Further factsheets can be viewed and downloaded as PDF from PestNet (www.pestnet.org).

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Link to these
fact sheets online:
http://www.pestnet.org/fact_sheets

Using the App

Pacific Pests & Pathogens

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Plant Health Clinics
What are PHCs?
Countries realise the need to grow more food locally so as to reclaim food and nutrition security. However,
intensification of production brings its own problems. For one thing, pests and diseases increase, and this
puts pressure on agricultural extension services which are often not well equipped to deal with the
challenges.

In response, Governments around the world are looking for ways whereby farmers can obtain pest and
disease diagnoses and information on their management. Plant health clinics (PHCs) are seen as a possible
solution, bringing accurate, up-to-date knowledge to farmers, enabling them to care for their crops more
effectively.

PHCs advise farmers on pests and diseases, soil and other abiotic problems, in a similar way that health
centres advise and treat humans.

Consultations take place in public places, mostly at markets, but also at trade and agricultural fairs. Farmers
bring plants with problems caused by pests and diseases, or by nutritional problems, for “plant doctors” to
diagnose and to prescribe safe, affordable and locally available solutions. The consultations are
documented. Farmers’ names and addresses are recorded, the problem described, diagnoses given and
management options suggested and, importantly, a copy of the prescription form given to the farmers.

The plant doctors are from government agencies or non-government organisations, universities, colleges
and even retail stores. The clinics are backstopped by specialists in the national plant protection agencies,
and they in turn by international institutions, such as the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, PestNet and
CABI Plantwise. These organisations provide backstopping in case identification and more information is
required.

Pilot PHCs in the Pacific

In the last decade, PHCs have been established in South and Central America, throughout Asia, and across
Africa. Under the ACIAR ICM/IPM project it was decided to hold them in Solomon Islands as a pilot for
Pacific islands.
In May 2012, CABI visited Solomon Islands bringing together the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and
the Kastom Gaden Association, at a workshop on the organisation and management of PHCs. Fact sheets
were written and staff trained in using them. Thereafter, and for the next 16 months, more than 20 clinics
were held on Guadalcanal and Malaita. In September 2013, Jeff Bentley, a pioneer of PHCs, carried out an
evaluation. He considered the pilot PHCs were a success, and made recommendations for Solomon Islands
and for other Pacific island countries.
His recommendations for extending the PHCs were as follows:
1. Run the PHCs through the extension service
2. Run a pilot for 1-2 years
3. Key activities of the pilot should be:
• Training of extension staff
• PHC duties to be included in extension staff TORs (ie their duty statements)
• Write fact sheets on local pests and diseases
• Sect a country coordinator – a champion with enthusiasm and commitment to PHCs
4. Make PHCs part of a plant health system: research, extension, dealers, farmers
5. Information from PHCs should be shared widely via radio, TV and extension programs
Remember, PHCs are meant to be “a regular and permanent service owned by the partners who operate
them, unlike a project that has a definite end point”.

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 S O L O M O N   I S L A N D S  

North  Malaita    

TAKWA  PLANT  CLINICS  

Kastom  Gaden  Association  |  20  &  21  August  2012  

   

   

   
This  plant  clinic  was  held  at  Takwa  village,  north  Malaita  and  organized  by  the  Baetolau  Farmers  Network  and  Kastom  
Gaden  Association.  Two  clinics  were  held:  the  first  on  20  August  at  which  37  farmers  attended,  and  the  second  on  the  
21  August  with  26  farmers.  Some  came  from  several  kilometres.  All  farmers  brought  samples,  some  brought  many.    
 
Problems  were:  taro  alomae/bobone,  taro  leaf  blight  and  mitimiti  disease;  sweetpotato  scab;  sliperi  kabis  shoot  
borer;  yam  nematode;  banana  scab,  and  root  rots  of  edu  and  kongkong  taro.  Cassava  with  Amblypelta  was  a  serious  
problem  (lower  right).  The  plant  doctors  were:  Roselkyn,  Joyce-­‐Mary,  Osanti,  Rita,  Verlyn,  Thecla,  Olga  and  Pita.  
 
Prepared  and  reported  by  KGA.  For  more  information  contact  Roselyn  Kabu  (roselynk@kastomgaden.org).  Photos  by  
GVHJ.  Plant  clinics  are  held  as  part  of  a  sub-­‐regional  IPM  project,  funded  by  ACIAR.    

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 S O L O M O N   I S L A N D S  

North  Malaita  

TAKWA  PLANT  CLINIC  

KGA  /  MAL|  10  September  2013  

   

   

     

This  plant  clinic  was  held  at  Takwa  Market,  and  organized  by  the  Bartolau  Farmers’  Network,  KGA  and  MAL.  The  clinic  is  located  
about  80  km  north  of  Auki  at  the  end  of  Malaita.  Many  farmers  participated  at  the  clinic  although  only  five  brought  samples.  Some  
of  the  key  problems  presented  were  associated  with  taro  with  alomae  and  bobone,  and  sliperi  kabis  with  Earias  shoot  borer  and  
Nisotra  flea  beetle.  Johnson  demonstrated  the  control  of  Alomar  and  answered  many  farmers’  questions.  
The  plant  doctors  were  Osanti  Luda,  Johnson  Ladota,  Roselyn  Kabu,  Verlyn  Lina,  Freda  Mudu,  Olga  Chapangi,  and  Pita  Tikai.  
Prepared  and  reported  by  Pita  Tikai.  ICM  project  (PC/2012/090).  For  more  information  contact  Roselyn  Kabu,  KGA  
(roselynk@kastomgaden.org),  or  Freda  Mudu,  MAL  (fredah.mudu@gmail.com).    Photos  by  Jeff  Bentley.  Plant  clinics  are  held  as  
part  of  a  sub-­‐regional  IPM  project,  funded  by  ACIAR,  Australian  Centre  for  International  Agricultural  Research,  Canberra.  

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