Agriculture & Horticulture

Oil palm is the main industrial crop contributing up to 30% of Malaysia national revenue. To date, about 5.5 million ha (60%) of agricultural land area is being planted with oil palm. Despite the rapid growth of the industry, the sustainable oil palm yield production remains prone to insect pests damage and its pollinators. In Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, bagworms remain the major insect pest, followed by the rhinoceros beetle in replanting areas. In Sarawak, bunch moth and termite are the major threats which are more related to those oil palm trees planted on peat soil. The potential of a new invasive insect pest, red palm weevils (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) (RPW) of causing severe damage to Malaysian oil industry need serious attention. Sustainable management of the insect pests with short and long term effects is being practiced by most plantations. For bagworms, the integrated pest management (IPM) approach of census and detection followed by application of Bacillus thuringiensis or selective insecticides, planting of beneficial plants and mass trapping seemed to reduce bagworms population without endangering the environment. Good agricultural practices like planting of cover crops, proper management of biomass residues and the use of microbes such as Metarhizium have successfully used to control rhinoceros beetle during replanting period. Bunch moth and termites remain critical insect pests in peat areas. Similar approaches employed to reduce their infestation. No specific control measure yet recommended for controlling RPW in Malaysia except using pheromone trap. The inefficiency of oil palm pollinators, Elaeidobius kamerunicus that linked to low fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production is serious problem to the oil palm industries and Malaysian economy. This paper presents updated information on the control and management of major insect pest of oil palm as well as latest research finding on the relationship between EK inefficiency and FFB produced.