*9.3.1 Important pests*

Rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros), red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), black headed caterpillar (Opisina arenosella), eriophyid mite: *Aceria guerreronis* (Acari: Eriophyidae), Termite: *Odontotermes sp.*

#### *9.3.2 IPM approaches*

Rhinoceros beetle and cock chafer beetle could be controlled by collecting and eliminating the various stages of the beetle's life cycle from manure pits (the pest's breeding site) whenever manure is removed. GI hooks can be used to extract the adult beetle from the palm crown during the peak phase of population growth [85]. Pheromone traps installed and gathered away from the main plantation are effective. Set up a pheromone trap for rhinoceros beetles at a rate of one trap per 100 hectares by attaching it to the plant at a height of 0.6 to 1 m to trap and kill the beetles [86]. Avoid cutting green leaves for red palm weevil, and if necessary, cut them about 120 cm away from the stem to prevent successful inward passage of the grubs via the cut end. Set up a pheromone trap and a trap with coconut logs: Set up attractant traps (dirt pots) containing sugarcane molasses 212 kg or toddy 212 l (or pineapple or sugarcane activated with yeast or molasses) + acetic acid 5 ml + yeast 5 g + longitudinally split tender coconut stem/logs of green petiole of leaves into 30 numbers in one acre to trap adult red palm weevils in large numbers. The discharge of baculovirus oryctes injected adult rhinoceros beetles at a rate of 6 insects per acre provides biological control by reducing the beetle's leaf and crown damage. To attract and kill the adults, soak one kilogramme of castor cake in five litres of water and place it in little mud pots in the coconut gardens. In the base of the three innermost leaves in the crown, apply a mixture of neem seed powder + sand (1: 2) @ 150 g/palm or neem seed kernel powder + sand (1: 2) @ 150 g/palm. Growing intercrop (sun hemp, four crops per year) and a shelterbelt of *Casuarina* around the coconut garden to prevent additional infiltration could help manage the coconut eriophyid mite. Fenpyroximate 5% EC was used as a chemical control (spray fluid volume as required). To control the Leaf Eating Caterpillar / Black Headed Caterpillar as a preventative precaution, clip and burn the first afflicted leaves at the start of the summer season. Cut the root at an angle and place it in a 7 × 10 cm polythene bag with an insecticidal solution containing monocrotophos 36% WSC + water 10 ml [87].

#### **10. Conclusions**

The pest management in tropical food crops with special emphasis on integration of cultural, mechanical, chemical and natural enemies is discussed in this chapter which will be useful for students, farmers, researchers and also entrepreneurs for updating their knowledge for future endeavours. The judicial and selective use of management strategies described could be helpful for sustainable pest management and production of these crops
