1. What is Cocolisap?Coconut scale insect pests are common in coconuts as its name suggests but in severe infestation could spread to perennial fruit trees. Damages to leaves, stalks and branches cause stunt growth, defoliation and dieback. Damages to fruits cause blemishes, deformed and unmarketable. Coconut scale insects are recorded in both sub tropical and tropical regions and is usually present in all countries where coconut trees are present. It is also known as armored scale, transparent scale, bourbon scale, bourbon aspidiotus and is sometimes called red flies because of the abundance of male flies in severe outbreaks. CSI is present in most of the Pacific Island countries particularly the atoll countries; Tuvalu and Kiribati. Scale insects belong to one of two types, the armored scales or the soft scales. The coconut scale is classified as an armored scale. These scales are protected by a distinct, hard, separable shell or scale over their delicate bodies (Metcalf, 1962). The shell is made of entangled threads of wax exuded from the body wall of the scale and discarded cast skins (the old skin shed during molts). Armored scales lose their legs and antennae after the first molt. Females are always wingless and remain under their scale their entire life. Males have one pair of membranous wings, move about actively in search of females and do not feed during the adult stage. Reproduction is by eggs in most cases, but a few species birth live young. Eggs are protected underneath the scale or shell of the mother insect until they hatch. All armored scales have essentially the same life history (Metcalf, 1962). Duration of developmental stages varies with temperature. Life history studies were conducted in Fiji by Taylor (1935) at a mean temperature of 79û F on seedling coconuts. Taylor found the total life cycle of females, from egg to the beginning of oviposition, required 34-35 days. Complete development of males required 30-35 days (Taylor, 1935). There are 8 - 10 generation per year in tropical regions. 2. What are the causes and effects of Cocolisap in a coconut and other fruit bearing plant? CSI‟s feeding causes yellowing or chlorosis, wilting, premature nut fall, and low yield. Experts explain that as CSI sucks the sap and injects toxic enzymes, these result to discolored leaves and deformed plant tissues. Usually a minor pest of young coconut in nurseries, CSI is also a destructive pest to mature coconut palms. As they settle on the leaves, they continuously suck the sap that is essential for the growth of the crop. In young palms, this pest appears on the underside of coconut palms. In bearing palms, it also attacks the surface of the fruits and the petioles. 3. Give at least 5 issues and concerns about Cocolisap in our country. Batangas Coconut Infestation Under Control Insect infestation in coconut palms in Batangas is not expected to reach epidemic proportion as it has been contained at 6 percent of the coconut trees in the province. The Philippine Coconut Authority, citing a provincial assessment report, said of the total coconut area of 34,932.7 hectares in 34 towns, only 2,054.46 hectares in nine towns were affected by the scale insects. Among the towns affected were Tanauan, Calaca, Lemery, Sto. Tomas, Malvar, Agoncillo, Talisay, Laurel and Balete. The coconut scale insects, Aspidiotus Destructor Signoret, are small plant parasites that cause yellowing or chlorosis, wilting, premature nut fall and low yield of coconut trees. PCA Administrator Euclides G. Forbes said he had directed field personnel to continuously take action to prevent infestation to reach epidemic level and to prevent it from spreading to neighboring provinces such as Laguna and Quezon. The agency said mechanical as well as biological control measures were being applied. It added that in young palms, the scale insects could be controlled by scrapping them off or by spraying a jet of soapy water. “Washing infested plant parts or a brisk wash spray of water can be helpful in reducing populations, particularly in cases of small infestations and/or in young palms. Leaf pruning to remove infested parts is continuously being done and disposed of by burning,” the PCA said. Gov't to roll out emergency measures to fight coconut pest (philstar.com) | Updated June 6, 2014 - 8:00pm MANILA, Philippines - The government has said it will put in place emergency measures to combat the infestation of scale insect which threatens to cripple the local coconut industry. Executive Order No. 169 released today authorizes the establishment of emergency measures to control the spread of scale insects (Aspidiotus rigidus) in coconut plantations. The order was signed by President Benigno Aquino III on June 5. "The massive infestation of scale insect poses a very serious threat to the coconut industry and to the livelihood of those who depend (on it)," said Aquino. State-run Philippine Coconut Authority will take the lead in crafting and implementing the emergency measures. Aquino said these emergency measures can include preventing the transport of unprocessed and untreated coconuts from infested areas that have been placed under quarantine. In the last three years, the Philippine government has been trying to eradicate scale insects - a pest attacking plant leaves - in the northern Philippine provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon. The government said the pest appeared to have spread in Mindanao and has been attacking other high-value crops like coffee and cacao that are cultivated under coconuts or near coconut plantations. The Philippines is the top supplier of coconut products in the world. The local coconut industry contributes an estimated $2 billion in foreign exchange earnings and provides livelihood to 3.5 million farmers in 68 provinces. Insect infestation threatens coconut industry in Isabela City BY: RENE V. CARBAYAS Tuesday 13th of August 2013 ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Aug 13 (PIA) -- Scale insect (Aspidiotus Destructor Signoret), a soft-bodied 5mm long fluid-feeding insect is invading the coconut plants and other palm and fruit trees in the city posing threat to farmers’ livelihood and the coconut industry. Rudy B. Corsame, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Isabela City, revealed that as of July 15, 15 barangays have been affected by the pests. Hardest hit was Barangay Lanote with 2,519 coconut trees affected, followed by Maligue, Cabunbata, and Lumbang. PCA data show the 15 barangays have 702,956 coconut trees and 5,975 of these are infested with the scale insect. The data also show the pest also attacked 1,170 ornamental plants, 382 lanzones trees, and 21 mango trees. PCA fears that more trees are affected, as 11 other barangays, namely, Calvario, Tabiawan, Panunsulan, Begang, Busay, Binuangan, Sumagdang, Kumalarang, Kapayawan, Balatanay, and Makiri are already affected. The Regional Development Council in Region 9 (RDC-9) also got alarmed at the infestation, knowing the magnitude of damage it caused to the coconut farmers of Batangas. Regional Director Noemi B. Edaga of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 disclosed that the RDC had come up with a resolution asking the agency to help conduct a massive information campaign about this pest. During the regional technical briefing conducted recently in Zamboanga City to PIA personnel by PCA and the Department of Agriculture (DA), Edaga explained that a massive information drive requires some budget which the agency has no funds for the purpose.Thus, she asked the PCA to fund the campaign. The PCA agreed to study the matter. Moreover, PCA-9 also presented its plans to address the situation. At its level, PCA field offices have already started to alert coconut farmers about the infestation, especially in Isabela City and made initial documentation on the extent of the infestation in the region. PCA-Isabela City had also gathered barangay chairpersons and selected kagawads of the 15 barangays affected by the pest last Aug. 1 to formulate plans to address the problem and control the spread of infestation to other barangays and neighboring cities and provinces in the region. The barangay officials have decided to conduct awareness drive in every affected barangay. Corsame said the insect is not a new pest specie attacking coconuts in the Philippines. He pointed out that there are many reasons why an outbreak of coconut scale insect occurred, and one of them is bad agricultural practices such as overuse or misuse of pesticides, particularly on the vegetables and fruit trees planted under coconut plants. Pesticides also kill natural enemies and without them, insect pests are free to multiply without control, he said. Although coconut is the preferred host of scale insects, it is also known to attack other perennial species including many species of fruit trees, such as avocado, breadfruit, mango, mangosteen, guava and papaya. PCA strengthens measures against CSI entry BY: LILIBETH A. FRENCH Monday 23rd of June 2014 ILOILO CITY, June 23 (PIA6) - - The Philippine Coconut Authority in Western Visayas is strengthening its quarantine measures in all ports of entry in the region to guard against the coconut scale insect (Aspidiotus rigidus) PCA 6 Officer in Charge Jeffrey de los Reyes said that so far they have not monitored any occurrence of CSI in the region but will strengthen quarantine measures in all ports of entry in the region such as Caticlan port in Malay, Aklan and Culasi Port in Roxas City, Capiz. He said the scale insect is now pestering CALABARZON, Basilan and part of Mindoro. “It is now near, since there is a part of Mindoro that is infested. Hopefully it won‟t spread to Bicol because once it enters Bicol it is near us,” said De los Reyes in a press briefing held at the Department of Agriculture 6 Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division Office. De los Reyes said that they are still waiting for the implementing rules on what will be intercepted in the quarantine stations but most likely this will include parts of coconut and coco seedlings. “The leaves are used to cover citrus from Mindoro,” said De los Reyes.On June 5, President Benigno Aquino signed Executive Order No. 169 establishing emergency measures to control and manage the spread and damage of Aspidiotus Rigidus in the country. It also designated the PCA as the agency to lead the nationwide effort to control and contain the scale infestation in the country. The EO also mandates the PCA to coordinate efforts in formulating necessary and appropriate emergency measures to treat infected coconut trees and host plants which may include mechanical, chemical and biological measures, as well as to declare infested areas to be under quarantine and to establish checkpoints and quarantine stations to prevent the transport of infected coconut plants. (JCM/LAF/PIA6). How 'cocolisap' infestation threatens Philippines by RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News Posted at 06/09/2014 9:15 PM | Updated as of 06/14/2014 10:57 AM Pangilinan: P200M lost to 'cocolisap' infestation MANILA - The local coconut industry has lost at least P200 million because of the the so- called "cocolisap" infestation. Presidential Assistant on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis Pangilinan on Monday said the losses are mounting. “Last year, ang datos po nila almost P200 million (losses). Inaverage out iyong yield loss, mga 60 percent ang bagsak. Sometimes it‟s 100 percent kapag talagang nadali na iyong puno; sometimes it‟s as low as 25 percent kung ito po ay moderate ang kanyang infestation," he said, describing the infestation on coconut plantations. "But they average out at 60 percent, 58 percent ang yield loss. So, ang total for last year based on the data was around P180 million yield loss for the industry." If the infestation is left unchecked, Pangilinan said losses may go up to billions of pesos. "If left without intervention, you will have P12 billion losses in Region 4, another P13 billion losses in Region 5 and around P7 billion losses, potential losses [in Region 9], with a 58 percent decrease." "In other words, 60 percent decrease. Based on our experience dito sa Calabarzon (Cavite/Laguna/Batangas/Rizal/Quezon), kung bumagsak ng 60 percent ang yield, „yan po ang magiging pigura," Pangilinan said. Pangilinan said the problem involves the pests moving to other areas. "Meaning, lumilipat. We have from 2010 to 2014, based on the data, the pest moves 400 meters a month. It can also transport itself even quicker kung ito ay dinadala by way of transporting the goods." He gave examples. "Meron tayong naging karanasan, halimbawa, from Batangas biglang sumulpot at lumabas sa Cavinti, Laguna. Outside of the normal 400 meters a month traveling bigla hong nagkaroon ng reports. At ang kanilang conclusion is that somebody transported infested products from Batangas to Cavinti, Laguna. Also in Polilio Island, for example, which is an island, meron na ring infestation and that confirms precisely the theory or the belief, which is established also by science, that it‟s airborne." The losses are not limited to coconuts anymore, as the infestation also affected other crops that are used in multi-cropping. This, however doesn‟t mean government will avoid multi-cropping altogether. "Pati po ang produkto ng mangosteen at saka lanzones, merong kalahating milyong mga puno na apektado na rin. And the treatment there will be different. Ang gagamitin po natin diyan is organic [pesticide] --- organic spraying, hindi ho chemical. And multi-cropping, I guess, eventually ganun pa rin ang solusyon. Temporarily, in certain areas where infestation is severe, it would not be advisable to plant new crops kasi nga baka siya ay mahaluan din at mahawa," Pangilinan said. 4. What are the preventive measures to avoid Cocolisap? 5. What are the Biological Methods to be applied to prevent Cocolisap? 6. What are the factors might influence a change in the population?