*4.5.2 Management*


#### **4.6 Isopteran pests**

## *4.6.1 Termites (Termitidae)*

Seedlings kept in polybags, spear leaves, male and female inflorescences, and a field of newly planted seedlings have all been found to have termite infestations. Red soils make up the bulk of the soil types in locations where oil palms are grown, and termite incidence is also more common there. The breakdown of oil palm leftovers such clipped leaves, empty and decaying fruit bunches, and male inflorescences is observed to be accelerated by these good decomposers (**Figure 13**).

#### **Figure 13.**

*Mound of* Pericapritermes *on the palm roots, (b)* Hypotermes *mound beside oil palm tree, (c)* Pericapritermes *nest dug from the peat ground, (d)* Nasutitermes *sp. Nesting inside frond, (e)* Nasutitermes *sp. consuming the dead frond that laid on the ground and (f)* Odontotermes *devouring the decaying wood log.*

Two termite species, Pericapritermes sp. and Hypotermes sp., destroy the roots of seedlings kept in polybags in Karnataka, resulting in the seedlings'stunted growth. The infestation is most noticeable in oil palm fields with inadequate irrigation [20]. In the province's plantations, where the majority of the palm trees were exhibiting indications of clay sheathing over the stem position, this was frequently observed as severe. Due to the industry's rapid expansion, termite infestation in oil palm trees, particularly in peat soil, has become a serious issue in Malaysia. *Odontotermes* spp. are the most prevalent pest species in India's oil palm growing regions overall [32, 50, 51].

#### *4.6.1.1 Nature and symptoms of injury*

The pest was identified to be feeding on the trunk in addition to the opposite dried material, such as leaf butts, male inflorescence, dried/bunch rot, bunch failure, and infected FFBs. The infestation was first seen over the winter, and by the end of March or beginning of April, it had reached its peak. Though they are found feeding only on the dried and useless things and causing no death blow to the palms, however, it makes the palms seem ugly and indicates the poor maintenance of the orchards.

*Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Oil Palm,* Elaeis guineensis *Jacq. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108580*

The earthen sheathings that are formed over the foraging areas are made from subsoil containing high amounts of potash and are beneficial in enhancing soil fertility [52–54]. By eating on the plant's collar section, which has distinctive clay wrapping on the stem portion, termites have been discovered to kill young nursery seedlings. Plants that are yielding and poorly managed nurseries are more vulnerable to termite attack. Due to termite occurrence in entirely abandoned plantations, adult producing palms are also discovered dead. Termite activity in irrigated oil palm plantations does not reduce yields, but it gives the plantation an unsightly appearance. In addition, the termite mounds on the plantation may develop into reptile nests, alarming the worker force.

#### *4.6.1.2 Management*


#### **4.7 Molluscan pests**

*Laevicaulis alte*, a black slug, is a sporadic pest that feeds on oil palm nursery plants that are one day old. The pest is observed feeding on nursery plants that are put within the main bags and are still in their embryonic stages. It is observed travelling from the neighbouring remnants and debris of harvested crops, such as bananas. After the crop is removed, several bugs are discovered hiding beneath the banana stumps that are dumped. It occurs frequently during the season. It can be seen travelling during this time along with the water. They enter the nursery when it is already dark and feed on the newly planted sprouts. The most common methods used to control this pest include blocking pest entry sites within the greenhouse, applying salt pellets to raised bunds on all sides of the greenhouse, keeping the lights on at night inside the greenhouse, etc. (**Figure 14**) [56].

#### **4.8 Vertebrate pests**

#### *4.8.1 Avian pests*

Birds and rodents are the key pests of oil palm within the oil palm-growing countries of the planet. Both of them go after the mesocarp of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) and cause direct losses in yield. Several species of birds cause extensive damage to oil palm fruits. Birds like crows, *Corvus* species; Mynah, *Acridotheres tristis*; Babbler, *Turdoides affinis*; Parrots, *Psitticula krameri* take advantage of the mesocarp of fruits causing an estimated fruit loss up to 2.8 t/ha/year. Of these, Indian mynah bird, Jungle crow, house crow, and parakeets cause significant fruit loss. The attack is observed throughout the year round and no seasonal variation in damage intensity is clear [57]. The great pied wagtail, coucal, pariah kite, white-headed babbler, and other birds occasionally eat oil palm fruits. Infestation is higher in ripe bunches (76%) compared to unripe bunches (5.6%). In comparison to Teneras (63%), Duras (84%) are more sensitive among the ripe bunches. However, Pisifera bunch damage is uncommon due to the low palm population and poor fruit setting brought on by sterility. In Madras,

the districts of Trichy and Karur, where oil palm is grown in sparse areas, have significant incidences (>20–30%) of bird pests. When compared to crows, the incidence of myna was found to be higher (20–30%). Even when the bunches were covered with oil palm leaves, there was a high incidence of bird damage in the solitary oil palm gardens, with 100% damage. Since there is no alternative food source available to birds throughout the wet and summer seasons, they are more active in oil palm gardens during those times.
