White Grub/ Cockchafer Beetle: Leucopholis coneophora

These cream colored grubs are found in abundance in sandy loam tracts of Kerala and Karnataka, especially in Sep – Oct and the beetles emerge in May-June.

Symptoms of Damage:

• In nursery the grubs feet the tender roots and tunnel into the bole of the collar region resulting in drying and yellowing
  
• In older plantations infestations results in yellowing of leaves, premature nut shedding, delayed flowering, retardation in growth and yield decline.
  
• White grubs are exposed when base of tree dug
  
• Tuber crops grown as intercrops are also affected.

Identification of the Pest:

Grub	Adult

• Egg: Oval in shape and creamy white in color when freshly laid. Prior to hatching they turn to dirty white.
  
• Grub: Curved, fleshy and wrinkled. They are creamy white in color with brown head.
• Adult: Brown coloured beetle with striated wings not covering the abdomen fully
  

Management:

Cultural Method:

• Repeated ploughing once a week for 4 to 5 times after first rains in summer reduce the pest population by exposing the pest to predation by birds and other animals.
  
• Plant neem twigs with leaves in coconut gardens after rain to attract and kill adult beetles
  
• Plough or dig the infested soil synchronizing with pre-monsoon showers.

Mechanical Method:

• Set up light trap @ 1 / ha or bonfire

Chemical Method:

• Soil application - Malathion 5 D 25 kg/ ha at the time of planting (Treat the soil with phorate 10G @ 100 g/palm or drench with chlorpyrifos 0.04% suspension. The treatment should be given twice, first during April-May after the receipt of pre-monsoon showers and second during the month of September - Recommended by KAU).

Physical Method:

• Collect and destroy the adult beetles attracted to trees like neem, Ailanthus and Acasia on the receipt of monsoon showers (in the evening).