236784980 what-is-cocolisap

1. 1. What is Cocolisap?
Coconut scale insect Aspidiotus destructor Signoret
(Hemiptera:Dispididae) (CSI) is recorded in tropical and subtropical regions
worldwide and is present in nearly all countries where coconuts are grown. It is
also known as armored scale, transparent scale, bourbon scale, bourbon
aspidiotus, and sometimes called red flies because of the abundance of male flies
during late afternoons in case of severe outbreaks. CSI infests stems, branches,
leafpetioles, leaves and fruits of their host plants. It is found mostly on the
undersides of leaves. During severe outbreaks, scale insects completely cover the
underside of leaves and defoliate and even kill their host plants. After
accidental introduction to some Pacific islands, CSI became a very serious pest
of coconuts until the initiation of biological control, following which, almost
invariably, its pest status in many countries has been greatly reduced. Recently
it has spread to new areas and in the absence of natural enemies it has become
a serious pest.
Rank & Taxon
Family Diaspididae
Description
Mature females can be 1-3.5 mm in length, but most are 1.5-2 mm long. Adult
females secrete a waxy coating that functions like a suit of armor; it may be
circular to pyriform to elongate in shape, reflecting the form of the insect
inside. They may be white, yellow, purple, red, or orange in color. The
protective coating is not a part of the body and can be removed. All stages of
armored scale insects are legless with the exception of the first- instar crawlers
and the third, fourth, and adult male. The crawlers are very small, oval and
flattened in form, with very short but functional legs.
Distribution
Worldwide; 400 genera, representing over 2,650 described species

2. Biology/Life cycle
Life cycles vary among species. Females may lay eggs or give birth to live young
under the scale cover. The first instar, or crawler stage, emerges from the cover
through a small posterior opening and may disperse either passively by wind or
actively by walking. Females have 3 instars while males have 5 instars which
include two "pupal" instars. The female scale cover is formed through the
incorporation of the first- and second- instar skins as they are shed, while males
only incorporate the shed exuviae of the crawler stage. The family encompasses
a variety of life histories; there may be 1 to 6 generations per year, and
overwintering may occur in any instar except the third, fourth, or adult male.
Hosts
Palms: a wide variety of palms
Other: a wide variety of species, but generally found on long lived species such
as trees and shrubs.
Representative taxa on palms
Aspidiotus destructor, the coconut scale insect, is a flat, circular, transparent
scale commonly found on coconut palms but also occurs frequently on other
palm species.
Ischnaspis longistoris, the black-thread scale insect, has a distinctive body form
in the female, with a shiny, black, and extremely long and narrow scale cover.
This species is one of the most frequently encountered armored scales on a
variety of decorative palms, and it thrives under greenhouse conditions.
2. What are the causes and effects of Cocolisap in a coconut and other fruit
bearing plant?
Being equipped with specialized mouthparts for sucking, this small yet terribly
voracious pest, feed on sap directly from the tree’s vascular system. CSI’s
feeding causes yellowing or chlorosis, wilting, premature nutfall and low yield.
Experts explained that as CSI sucks the sap, it also injects toxic enzymes,
resulting to discolored leaves and deformed plant tissues.
Usually a minor pest of young coconut in nurseries, CSI is also considered as 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 underside of the coconut palms, but in
bearing palms it appears not only in the underside of the coconut palms but
also in the surface of the fruits and the petioles.
3. Give at least 5 issues and concerns about Cocolisap in our country.
• KONTRA COCOLISAP | Fighting coconut scale insect infestation of 1.8 million
trees

3. TAYABAS, Quezon -- The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Food Security and
Agriculture Modernization (PAFSAM) on Friday launched what it termed as the
most comprehensive and most intensive control program to combat the rapid
spread of coconut scale insect infestation in the provinces of Batangas, Laguna,
Quezon, Cavite, and Basilan.
PAFSAM Secretary Francis Pangilinan led the launching of the "Sama-samang
Aksyon ng Gobyerno, Industriya at Pamayanan sa Malawakang Pagsugpo ng
Pesteng Cocolisap" (SAGIP) in Barangay Potol, Tayabas, Quezon.
Pangilinan said the program is an area-wide strategy that would apply
proactive solutions with the support of all stakeholders in the coconut industry
to bring the infestation to manageable levels.
The former senator-turned-food security adviser said the program, which will
run for six months, has a P750-million budget and will utilize five protocols to
eradicate coco infestation "Aspidiotus Rigidus," which has already destroyed
almost two million trees.
These are pruning of heavily infected leaves; injecting a systemic insecticide to
tree trunks; spraying organic insecticides to coconut leaves that are slightly
infested; fertilization for faster recovery; and the introduction of bio-control
agents.
Aside from these, a quarantine program would also be in effect to prevent the
transport of infected coconut fruits to unaffected areas.
“What we have here is an aggressive approach designed to nip the problem in
the bud before it spreads to other provinces -- particularly Bicol, Region 4-B, and
the Zamboanga Peninsula -- and become an epidemic,” Pangilinan said.
He said that based on records of the Philippine Coconut Authority -– one of four
Department of Agriculture attached agencies now under PAFSAM -- the
damaged wrought by “cocolisap” in Region 4-A alone has almost doubled since
the start of May this year.
Nationwide, the number of infected trees stands at an estimated 1.8 million, up
from the estimated 1.2 million infected trees at the start of the year.
“Although this figure is less than 1 percent of the total number of fruit-bearing
coconut trees in the country, we must institute aggressive operational
interventions before infestation goes out of hand,” he said as he noted the high
reproduction rate of the insect.
As per field assessments, infected trees have decreased yields by up to 60 percent
-– a big blow to coconut farmers who are considered as the “poorest of the poor”
among agricultural farmers.
For the program to succeed, Pangilinan stressed that all stakeholders, most
especially the local government units (LGUs) concerned, would have to work
together to eradicate the insect once and for all.
“Ground troops win wars; kayo pong mga LGUs at mga apektadong magsasaka
ng niyog ang mga magiging sundalo laban sa cocolisap,” he told local officials
and farmers present at the ceremonial launching.
“The government aims to cover 33,000 infected trees daily for 60 days, which
means we have to hire thousands of laborers in the affected provinces,”
Pangilinan said.
Farmers who will take part in the program would be given cash allowances for
their labor which would also serve as a replacement income while waiting for
their trees to recover.
Affected farmers would also be given free cash crop seeds -- like eggplant,
tomato, string beans, lettuce, ampalaya, and others -- to augment their daily
needs and provide additional income.

4. Besides the PCA and LGUs, other agencies included in the program
implementation are the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Bureau of Plant
Industry (BPI), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Interior
and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the
Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), among others.
“Sa tulong ng bawat isa, tayo ay magtatagumpay gamit ng mga tamang proseso
at hakbang,” Pangilinan said.
The Philippines is the top supplier of coconut products in the world market,
with the industry having an estimated $2 billion net foreign earnings.
It also provides livelihood to some 3.5 million coconut farmers all over the
country.
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), annual production of
coconut dropped by 3.3 percent -- from 15.86 million metric tons (MT) in 2012 to
15.34 million MT last year.
In its latest Non-food and Industrial Crop Quarterly report, the BAS included the
infestation of coconut trees as one of the reasons for the decrease in production.
• Coconut scale insects invade Zamboanga City
Dr. Carlito Robares, chief of the Crop Division of the Zamboanga City
Agriculture Office, shows a leaf infected with coconut scale insects, and coconut
trees now dead due to infestation in the village of Baluno. (Mindanao Examiner
Photo - Ely Dumaboc) ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / June 12,
2014) – The invasive species of coconut scale insects have already reached
Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines and agriculture officials expressed
alarm over the infestation that is now threatening fruit trees.
Dr. Carlito Robares, chief of the Crop Division of the Zamboanga City
Agriculture Office, said the infestation has affected the village of Baluno after
the insects attacked not only coconut, but other fruit trees such as Lanzones
(Lansium domesticum).
He said the same species have wrought havoc in nearby Basilan province,
particularly in Isabela City where more than half of its 33 villages where huge
plantations of coconuts and rubber, and Lanzones were infected with coconut
scale insects.
Robares said they are monitoring other villages in Zamboanga City and has
urged farmers and village officials to take immediate actions or coordinate with
the agriculture office to prevent the spread of the infestation.
“We are now working double time here and this is very alarming now because
the coconut scale insects have reached Zamboanga City where there are many
plantations not only of coconut, but various fruit trees,” he told the regional
newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
The Philippine Coconut Authority has previously warned that the coconut scale
insect infestation in Basilan may spread to other areas. It has formed an inter-
agency task force to address the worsening problem brought about by the
infestation in Basilan, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.
Rudy Corsame, the PCA provincial manager, said the task force involves various

5. government agencies such as the Basilan Agriculture Office, the Coast Guard,
the Philippine National Police, the Maritime Industry Authority, Department of
Labor and Employment, and the Bureau of Plant Industry, among others.
He said the Task Force CSI (coconut scale insects) will quarantine all plants and
seedlings coming to Basilan - one of five provinces under the Muslim
autonomous region - to ensure that no invasive species of insects such as the
coconut scale would be able to enter the island.
Efren Carba, the PCA provincial coconut development manager, said the
invasive species of coconut scale have destroyed over 76,000 coconut trees in
Isabela City in Basilan alone. He said they are yet to receive funding to control
if not eradicate the coconut scale infestation in the Basilan.
The same infestation has ravaged the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas,
Rizal, and Quezon – all in Luzon Island and officials were trying to determine
how the insects (Aspidiotus Rigidus) managed to find its way to Basilan.
Carba said the infestation of the coconut scale is at the moment within Basilan
and there were no reports of attacks on coconut plantations in Sulu and Tawi-
Tawi provinces, and also Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and
Zamboanga del Norte, all in western Mindanao.
He said pests attack the leaves and fruits of coconut trees and there were
reports that mangoes, bananas ang other fruit trees are also at risk of
infestation in Basilan. He said there were other species of coconut scale in
Basilan, but not the same species bow wrecking havoc to coconut plantations in
the province and in Luzon.
Carba said the life cycle of a coconut scale insect - a small, flat, yellowish scale
with a semitransparent or whitish, waxy covering - is 30-32 days with each
insect can spawn up to 50 eggs in just one week. Eggs are laid under the scale
cover and hatch into a stage called crawlers that are dispersed by the wind, on
clothing of people, or on the feet of birds and other flying animals.
He said they are now using biological and chemical spray to kill the insects and
stop the spread of the infestation. He said the species Aspidiotus destructor is
endemic in Basilan and a minor pest of coconut, but the newly reported,
Aspidiotus rigidus, is invasive and causing outbreaks and not known to be
present before in the province. (Ely Dumaboc)
• PCA puts Bicol under watch vs coconut scale insect infestation
May 13, 2014 10:33 am
LEGAZPI CITY, May 12 -– The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has placed
Bicol under watch against the possibility that the massive scale insect
infestation wreaking havoc on the coconut industry in nearby southern Tagalog
provinces may reach the region.
Recent reports said coconut scale insect (CSI) infestation in the Southern Luzon
provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Quezon has reached alarming levels
which when not contained immediately might spread up to Bicol.

6. According to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), CSI, also known as
Aspidiotus destructor Signoret (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), are small insects
which are plant parasites that usually cause problems not only in coconut
nurseries and young palms but also in those that are already bearing nuts.
They have been observed underneath coconut leaves in young palms, and in
affected bearing palms, the insects are found not only on the underside of the
leaves but also on the surface of the fruits and petioles.
These insect pests cause yellowing or chlorosis, wilting, premature nutfall and
low yield because it continuously siphons off the plant sap with their
specialized mouth parts.
Thick sooty molds grow on the honeydew excreted by these insects, preventing
photosynthesis, and in the process, coconut trees die because CSI block leaf
pores, preventing leaves from producing nutrients for the tree.
The insect is dispersed by wind and its enigmatic nature, which is very small
and remains undetected for long periods during which it rapidly multiplies
before infested leaves show signs of yellowing, is a big problem being
encountered by PCA.
Fortunately so far, coconut palms in Camarines Norte, the Bicol province closest
to Quezon Province, have been tested negative to SCI, Mateo Zipagan, PCA
regional manager for Bicol based here, on Monday said.
“While our wish is for these insects in its currently infested Tagalog provinces
to be contained the soonest possible time and that the do not reach any part of
Bicol, our office is not letting its guard loose so that in case they spread down to
the region, we can readily act against them,” Zipagan said.
PCA has solutions in containing the pest that is now being applied in the
Southern Tagalog provinces like the release of predatory coccinellids
(Cryptolemus and Telsimia) beetles that eat scale insects in the affected areas.
• 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.
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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.

7. 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.
• Scale insect infestation solution
Scale insects are killing the coconut industry. We offer a four-part solution that
we reported at a May 12 Senate Agriculture Committee hearing chaired by
Senator Cynthia Villar.
Many insights were gotten from Alyansa Agrikultura members such as Centro
Saka (Omi Royandoyan: 0917-5286001), and Coconut Industry Reform Movement
(Joey Faustino: 0917-8205027), as well as scientists such as the UPLB Volunteers
to Fight Scale Insects (former UPLB Agriculture Dean Ayds Adalla: 0920-
9009104).
Budget
Only P50 million out of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) 2014 budget of P65
billion—or less than 1/10 of 1 percent—has been allocated to address this
unfolding agricultural disaster. At an earlier briefing, it was reported that the
scale insects had reached 46 municipalities in Calabarzon and travel at 0.4
kilometer per month. These numbers should be reviewed. These insects have
already penetrated Region 1 (e.g. Ilocos Norte) and Region 3 (e.g. Bulacan).
Furthermore, they have also attacked banana and mangosteen plants, and have
already been found infesting the ornamental palms in Greenbelt, Makati.
In response to this massive infestation, the government has provided a measly
total of 225 sprayers. Why so few? The coconut farmers have been contributing
all these years to a coconut levy that has reached at least P90 billion today. Now
that the farmers need resources to survive, not one centavo is coming from this
levy. This is indeed a travesty of justice.
LGU involvement
The Local Government Autonomy Code stipulates that it is now the local
government unit (LGU), not the DA, that is primarily responsible for
agricultural development. But the DA has failed to give the LGUs the support
they need to stop this agricultural decline.
Other countries cordon off an identified area and simultaneously destroy the
insects. Here, we do it municipality by municipality. The insects therefore just
escape to the adjoining municipality, ironically hastening the infestation
spread. When the first municipality has finished its action, some of these
escaped insects just return, with the resulting double infestation. Indeed, the
LGUs should be more involved in planning and implementing these measures.
Adjoining LGUs and communities should likewise participate so that they can
take the necessary preventive actions.
Some LGUs are being dissuaded from declaring their communities as calamity
areas. One department official stated that it might impact our coconut exports.
Other agencies say that it might tarnish our government’s reputation. But by
being so dissuaded, LGUs will not get the necessary attention, and will be
deprived of additional resources given to calamity areas.
Task force composition
The Coconut Scale Insect (CSI) Task Force is chaired by the PCA’s Calabarzon
regional director. It is composed of government agencies and business
organizations, some of which have vested interests. On the other hand, not a
single farmer representative has been included.

8. The insect infestation is akin to the deadly germ warfare banned by
international bodies. Because of the severity of this problem which is impacting
other regions and crops, this task force should now be headed by an agriculture
undersecretary, with at least one farmer representative. This way, the task
force will be able to address this crisis more comprehensibly.
Organic law implementation
Chemical pesticides are being recommended to address the scale insects. If
unnecessary, their use will adversely affect our coconut exports which are
currently chemical free. We may then not be able to export any longer our high-
value organic coconut products, such as virgin coconut oil, coconut water and
coconut sugar. There are at least four companies offering organic non-chemical
solutions which can be sprayed over an identified quarantine area that will
simultaneously kill these scale insects and consequently stop their spread.
However, this cannot be done quickly because organic products have to be
approved by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), whose procedures are
appropriate only for chemical products. Not only are these the wrong
procedures; they also take too much time to address an emergency crisis.
This current practice also violates the Agriculture Organic Law, which states
that it is the Bureau of Agriculture Fisheries Product Standards, not the FPA,
that should do organic product certification. This should be corrected
immediately. There is no time to lose during this crisis.
Frustrated farmers
The coconut farmers have contributed to a P90-billion coconut levy that is doing
nothing to help them in their hour of need. But even if government authorities
choose to leave this levy untouched, it can still implement the four-part solution
that is identified here. It is high time the government does its job of saving our
coconut industry and our coconut farmers. Otherwise, we will have the opposite
of inclusive growth.
4. What are the preventive measures to avoid Cocolisap?
"We are already looking for sustainable long term solutions such as biological
control which takes time to be established and be effective, for the reason that
natural enemies become absent as a result of extreme conditions such as
drought and typhoons," Forbes bared. He also added that PCA already released
700 individuals of predatory coccinellids (Cryptolemus and Telsimia), beetles
that eat scale insects in the affected areas. It will be done continuously until all
scale insects in the affected areas have been treated.
PCA is also pursuing the mechanical control. In young palms, the scale insects
and mealybugs can be controlled manually by scraping them off or spraying
them off with 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. Administrator Forbes also added that
part of this mechanical control is leaf pruning and disposal of pruned leaves by
burning, reducing the reproducing population of the scale insects and
mealybugs and prevents the spread to other areas.
Chemical control with contact or systemic insecticides can be used but is
effective only for the 'crawler' stage of the pest (or the very young scale insect).

9. Furthermore, the use of insecticide spraying is applicable only for young palms
and seedlings. "It is important to select appropriate insecticides, timing and
application methods to reduce negative impact on the natural enemies but still
get maximum control," he noted.
5. What are the Biological Methods to be applied to prevent Cocolisap?
Biological control which takes time to be established and be effective, for the
reason that natural enemies become absent as a result of extreme conditions
such as drought and typhoons," Forbes bared. He also added that PCA already
released 700 individuals of predatory coccinellids (Cryptolemus and Telsimia),
beetles that eat scale insects in the affected areas. It will be done continuously
until all scale insects in the affected areas have been treated.
6. What are the factors might influence a change in the population?
The growing condition of the trees is also a factor in scale development.
Trees in thrifty growing condition with a high percentage of green leaves are
more suitable for scale development than trees that are hard or have a large
percentage of bronzed and frenched leaves.
Seasonal conditions also play an important part in scale development.
During the past three years scales have increased very materially between
October and February, a period when scale development is ordinarily slow.