Identification of alternative insecticides with lower toxicity for bagworm control in oil palm via trunk injection method: a reevaluation of Acephate and evaluation of other new insecticides

Abstract

The chemical control of Bagworms, Metisa plana, Pteroma Pendula and Mahasena Corbetti, being important leat pest of oil palm were mainly conducted by trunk injection of systemic insecticides especially for mature and taller palms (Wood, Liau and Knecht, 1974; Lai and Tey, 2009). The common anxiety for oil palm plantation estates on this trunk injection method is the usage of Methamidophos and Monocrotophos, both are highly toxic pesticides which require the oil palm estates to follow stringent safety procedure and strict Pesticide Board Regulations. These stern safety procedures on Methamidophos and Monocrotophos application has caused concern and has also implanted fear and uneasiness among the workers to conduct the activity. Due to the high toxicity of these two insecticides, several efforts were conducted to identify and evaluate alternative insecticides that possesses lower toxicity than Class 1A and 1B that is effective and can be used in trunk injection against this pest. Furthermore the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the multi-stakeholder initiative on sustainable palm oil have stressed the requirement for plantation companies to reduce or eliminate usage of Class 1A and 1B pesticides in their operation as stated in the RSPO Principal and Criteria under Principal 4, use of Appropriate Best Practices By Grower and Millers (No. 4.6, Indicator 4.6.4) from the RSPO Principal & Criteria for Production of Sustainable Palm Oil, 2013 document (RSPO Execute Board, 2013). Consequently, a series of research trial was conducted to evaluate a number of lower toxicity insecticides which includes re-evaluation of the already proven acephate insecticide on Bagworms (Wood, Lian and Knecht, 1974; Chung, 1989; Lai and Tey, 2009) and some new insecticides i.e. Dimehypo, Cyantraniliprole and Dinotefuran using the trunk injection methods.