Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Common and Potential Insect Pests of Urban Palm Trees in Malaysia

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Urban Forestry and Arboriculture in Malaysia

  • 128 Accesses

Abstract

Palms belong to one of the largest plant families, Arecaceae. They are among the most extensively cultivated species used for foods and landscaping. This family covers a large variety of species and is widely distributed in warm and humid lowlands of the tropics. Malaysia, which is located in the equatorial region with a typical tropical climate, is home to many palm species. Palms are recommended in landscape planning where the planting space is cramped; they are widely used to create a sense of place and to define the frame of the construction. These evergreen plants could serve as reliable food sources and shelters for insects, and almost all categories of insect pests can be found in palms with various degrees of occurrence. Nevertheless, the relationship between insects and different palm species planted for ornamental functions is still mostly unknown. This chapter summarizes the insect pests associated with the five most common palm species used for the urban landscape in Malaysia viz. Roystonea regia, Wodyetia bifurcata, Licuala grandis, Livistona chinensis and Ptychosperma macarthurii. Similar taxa of insect pests are usually found on different palm species, regardless of their location. Hemiptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera are the most documented orders among all insect pests.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abbas, M. S. T. (2010). IPM of the Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. In K. G. Mukerji (Ed.), Ciancio, Aurelio (pp. 209–233). Integrated Management of Arthropod Pests and Insect Borne Diseases.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad Said, S. (1983). Ulat bungkus Cremastopsyche pendula Joannis (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) serangga perosak berbagai pokok di taman rekreasi. In Seminar Kebangsaan 1983, Hutan, Taman Negara dan Taman Bandaran untuk Rekreasi, Serdang, Selangor, 26–28 September 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Azmi, A. W., Lian, C. J., Zakeri, H. A., Yusuf, N., Omar, W. B., Wai, Y. K., & Hussain, M. H. (2017). The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus: Current issues and challenges in Malaysia. Oil Palm Bulletin, 74, 17–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baranowski, R. M. (1958). Notes on the biology of the royal palm bug, Xylastodoris luteolus Barber (Hemiptera, Thaumastocoridae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 51(6), 547–551.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Dov, Y. (1993). A systematic catalogue of the soft scale insects of the world (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae) with data on geographical distribution, host plants, biology and economic importance. Available at https://www.cabi.org/isc/abstract/19951102907

  • Borowiec, N., Quilici, S., Martin, J., Issimaila, M., & A, Chadhouliati, A.C., Youssoufa, M.A., Beaudoin-Ollivier, L., Delvare, G. & Reynaud, B. (2010). Increasing distribution and damage to palms by the Neotropical whitefly, Aleurotrachelus atratus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Journal of Applied Entomology, 134(6), 498–510.

    Google Scholar 

  • CABI. (2019). Brontispa longissima (Coconut Hispine Beetle) Available at https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/10059#F00C2455-0763-48DD-8B47-F3273D80607C.

  • CABI. (2020a). Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Red palm weevil). Available at www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/47472.

  • CABI. (2020b). Dysmicoccus brevipes (Pineapple mealybug). Available at www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/20248.

  • CABI. (2020c). Aleurotrachelus atratus (Palm-Infesting Whitefly). Available at www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/112108.

  • CABI. (2020d). Licuala grandis. Available at https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/30714.

  • Christenhusz, M. J. M., & Byng, J. W. (2016). The number of known plant species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa, 261(3), 201–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung, A.Y.C. (2008). Insects associated with some ornamental plants in Sabah, Malaysia. Paper presented at the 7th International Conference on Plant Protection, Kuala Lumpur, 27–29 August, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung, A.Y.C. (2016). An Overview of Insect Pests of Rattans & other Palms in Sabah, Malaysia. Paper presented in Symposium and Training Course on Forest Invasive Pests, Haikou, Hainan, 18–22 October, 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curran, C. H. (1945). Insects of the Pacific region. The Infantry Journal, 1, 317.

    Google Scholar 

  • DBKL—Senarai pokok palma di sekitar Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (2011–2020).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dransfield, J., Uhl, N. W., Asmussen, C. B., Baker, W. J., Harley, M. M., & Lewis, C. E. (2008). Genera palmarum- The evolution and classification of the palms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, UK. https://doi.org/10.34885/92

  • Edward, F.G. & Dennis, G.W. (1994). Ptychosperma macarthurii, Macarthur Palm. Available at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st535

  • EPPO. (2009). Mini Data Sheet on Metamasius Hemipterus. Available at: gd.eppo.int/download/doc/1075_minids_METAHE.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, G. A. (2007). The Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) of The World and Their Host Plants and Natural Enemies. Available at: keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/whitefly/PDF_PwP%20ETC/world-whitefly-catalog-Evans.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faleiro, J. R., Jacques, J. A., Carrillo, D., Giblin-Davis, R., Mannion, C.M., Peña-Rojas, E., & Peña, J. E. (2016). Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of Palm Pests In “Integrated Pest Management in the Tropics”. In D. P. Abrol (Ed.), (pp. 439–497, [Part II: Chapter 16]). New India Publishing Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia, J. N. (2011). Fiorinia phantasma Cockerell and Robinson (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), an armored scale pest new to Hawaii. Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society, 43, 59–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbin-Davis, R. M., & Peña, J. E. (1993). West Indian sugarcane borer, Metamasius hemipterus sericeus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) An increasing pest problem on field grown ornamental palms. TropicLine, 6(4), 1–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilman, E. F., & Watson, D. G. (1994). Roystonea spp. Royal palm. Fact Sheet ST-574, University of Florida. http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/roysppa.pdf

  • Goles, H. G. (2003, May 6–9,). Integrated pest management practices for mango. In Proceedings of 34th PMCP Anniversary and Annual Scientific Conference, Cebu Business Hotel, Cebu City.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, N. A., & Elliott, M.L. (2015). Lethal yellowing (LY) of palm. Plant Pathology Department, University of Florida (UF)/ Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Extension, USA, pp. 222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartley, C. W. S. (1967). Diseases and pests of the oil palm. In Hartley CWA (Ed.), The Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) (pp. 589–590). Longmans, Green and Co. Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, F. W. (1991). Ecology and control of hemipterous pests of cultivated palms. American Entomologist, 37(4), 217–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, F. W. (2001). Insect pests of palms and their control. Pesticide Outlook, 12(6), 240–243. https://doi.org/10.1039/b110547g

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, F. W. (1999). An introduction to insect pests of palms. Acta Horticulturae, 486, 133–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, F. W. (2015). American palm cixiid—Myndus crudus Van Duzee. Featured Creatures. University of Florida. Available from http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/palms/palm_cixiid.htm

  • Howard, F. W., Giblin-Davis, R., Moore, D., & Abad, R. (2001). Insects on palms. CABI publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hua, L. S., Chen, L., Sajap, A. S., Peng, T., & Ashaari, Z. (2015). Development of Pteroma Pendula Joannis (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) feeding on selected landscape trees In Peninsular Malaysia. The Malaysian Forester, 78(1), 87–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • John, D. V., & Kenneth, A. (2020). A report on the coconut rhinocerous beetle and its menacing life. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology, 41(17), 13–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalshoven, L. G. E. (1981). The pest of crops in Indonesia (p. 701), Ichtiar Baru/Van Hoeve, Jakarta.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, C. Y. (2014). Urban Forest Insect Pests and Their Management in Malaysia. Formosan Entomologist, 33, 207–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liebregts, W., & Chapman, K. (2004). Impact and control of the coconut hispine beetle, Brontispa longissima Gestro (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Available at http://www.fao.org/3/ad522e/ad522e07.htm

  • Lim, W. H. (1972). Wilting and green spotting of pineapple by the bisexual race of Dysmicoccus brevipes Ckll. in West Malaysia. Malaysian Pineapple, 2, 15–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y. Q., Zhao, C. Y., Yang, L., Zhao, Y. L., & Liu, T. T. (2011). Evaluation of insecticidal activity of podophyllotoxin derivatives against Brontispa longissima. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 99(1), 39–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malumphy, C., Eyre, D., & Anderson, H. (2016). Red Palm Weevil: Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J. H., & Lau, C. S. (2011). The Hemiptera-Sternorrhyncha (Insecta) of Hong Kong, China—an annotated inventory citing voucher specimens and published records. Zootaxa, 2847(1), 1–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meerow, A. W., Krueger, R. R., Singh, R., Low, E. T., Ithnin, M., & Ooi, L. C. (2012). Coconut, Date, and Oil Palm Genomics. In R. J. Schnell & P. M. Priyadarshan (Eds.), Genomics of Tree Crops (pp. 299–351). Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura, S., Konishi, K., & Takasu, K. (2006, September 18–22). Invasion of the coconut hispine beetle, Brontispa longissima: current situation and control measures in Southeast Asia. In Proceedings of International Workshop on Development of Database (APASD) for Biological Invasion, Taichung.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinert, J. A. (1977). Field biology and control of Haplaxius crudus on St. Augustinegrass and Christmas palm. Journal of Economic Entomology, 70(1), 54–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhainds, M., Davis, D. R., & Price, P. W. (2009). Bionomics of bagworms (Lepidoptera : Psychidae). Annual Review of Entomology, 54, 209–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richards, R. M. (1917). The diseases and pests of the coconut palm. Federated Malay States Agricultural Bulletin, 5, 327–337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saw, L. G. (2012). A revision of Licuala (Arecaceae, Coryphoideae) in Borneo. Kew Bulletin, 67(4), 577–654.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selvaraj, K., Sundararaj, R., & Sumalatha, B. V. (2019). Invasion of the palm infesting whitefly, Aleurotrachelus atratus Hempel (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in the Oriental region. Phytoparasitica, 47(3), 327–332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, S. P., & Rethinam, P. (2004). Coconut hispine beetle Brontispa longissima (Gestro)(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Cord, 20(01), 34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, I. M., McNamara, D. G., Scott, P. R., & Holderness, M. (1997). Palm lethal yellowing phytoplasma. Quarantine Pests for Europe, (pp. 6, 2nd ed.), Wallingford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan, C. L. (2014). Wild about Palms. Available from https://www.thestar.com.my/News/Environment/2014/08/25/Wild-about-palms/

  • USDA-ARS. (2014). Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database. Beltsville. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. Available from https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch.aspx

  • Wahizatul, A. A., Zazali, C., Abdul, R., & Nurul’Izzah, A. G. (2013). A new invasive coconut pest in Malaysia: The red palm weevil (Curculionidae: Rhynchophorus ferrugineus). Planter, 89(1043), 97–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anuar, W. K., W.A., Ahmad Azinuddin, A.R., Nurul Najwa, Z., Mohd Rani. A., et al. (2019). Infestation status of invasive coconut leaf beetle, Brontispa longissima (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on coconut palms in three different locations in Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Agriculture and Food Science, 47(1), 25–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, B. J. (1968). Pests of oil palms in Malaysia and their control (p. 204). Incorporated Society of Planters.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yunus, A., & Ho, T. H. (1980). List of economic pests, host plants, parasites and predators in West Malaysia (1920–1978). Bulletin Ministry of Agriculture, Malaysia, 153, 538.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paraclinical, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), Kota Bharu, Pengkalan Chepa, 16100, Kelantan, Malaysia

    Li Peng Tan

  2. Genetic & Agriculture (G&A) Research Centre, Kabupaten Pelalawan, PT Musim Mas, Desa Batang Kulim, Kecamatan Pangkalan Kuras, Riau, Indonesia

    Yew Loong Cheong

  3. Mycology and Pathology Branch Forest Biodiversity Division, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Kuala Lumpur, 52109, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Samsuddin Ahmad Syazwan

  4. Institute for Infrastructure Engineering and Sustainable Management (IIESM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, 40450, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Wei Chen Lum

  5. Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, 43400, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Seng Hua Lee

  6. Department of Forest Science and Biodiversity, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, 43400, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Samsuddin Ahmad Syazwan

Authors
  1. Li Peng Tan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yew Loong Cheong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Samsuddin Ahmad Syazwan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wei Chen Lum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Seng Hua Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li Peng Tan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Design & Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia

    Sreetheran Maruthaveeran

  2. Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Wendy Y. Chen

  3. School of Forestry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Justin Morgenroth

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Tan, L., Cheong, Y., Ahmad Syazwan, S., Lum, W., Lee, S. (2022). Common and Potential Insect Pests of Urban Palm Trees in Malaysia. In: Maruthaveeran, S., Chen, W.Y., Morgenroth, J. (eds) Urban Forestry and Arboriculture in Malaysia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5418-4_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5418-4_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-19-5417-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-19-5418-4

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation