Scale insects infest coco trees in 9 Batangas towns

MANILA, Philippines - Coconut plantations in nine towns in Batangas are still grappling with scale insect infestation but efforts have made to control the spread of the insects, according to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

PCA Administrator Euclides Forbes said his agency has put up five laboratories for the mass rearing of predators to be used as biocontrol agents and for the field testing of both chemical and non-chemical pest control agents.

Forbes said the affected coconut plantations in Batangas comprise less than one percent of the total 350 million trees nationwide.

“We are now increasing interventions and many have joined in the fight against the infestation. This effort is to prevent the spread of the infestation to other areas and prevent damage to young coconuts,” he said.

The towns affected by the scale insect infestation are Tanauan, Calaca, Lemery, Sto. Tomas, Malvar, Agoncillo, Talisay, Laurel, and Balete. The average infestation rate in these areas is placed at 31.25 percent.

The government has so far spent P5.2 million to reduce the population of the coconut scale insects that have spread in the nine towns since May.

The PCA has asked farmers to limit the use of pesticides on coconut trees to prevent adverse effects on the nuts, and instead spray vinegar or liquid soap on the infected trees.

The scale insects attacking coconut trees in Batangas feed on sap drawn from the plant’s vascular system, resulting in the yellowing of leaves.

Thousands of predator coccinellid insects have been released to control the population of the scale insects.

Experts believe it would take three years before the coconut trees in Batangas could return to their normal production capacity.