EFFECT OF Bt PRODUCTS, LEPCON-1, BAFOG-1 (S) AND ECOBAC-1 (EC), AGAINST THE OIL PALM POLLINATING WEEVIL, Elaeidobius kamerunicus, AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH Cassia cobanensis

The effects of Bacillus thuringiensis products, Lepcon-1, Bafog-1 (S) and Ecobac-1 (EC), on the oil palm pollinating weevil, Elaeidobius kamerunicus, and beneficial insects, especially parasitoids, were studied. For pollinating weevils, oil palm male spikelets with weevils were treated by spraying with Lepcon-1 and Ecobac-1 (EC) at five different concentrations, ranging from 5.2 × 10 7 to 5.2 × 10 11 cfu ml -1 for Lepcon-1, and 7.34 × 10 7 to 7.34 × 10 11 cfu ml -1 for Ecobac-1 (EC). For Bafog-1 (S), male spikelets with weevils were fogged at a dose of 7.7 × 10 11 cfu ml ml -1 . The Bt products Lepcon-1, Bafog-1 (S) and Ecobac-1 (EC) were safe for E. kamerunicus. Direct spraying of Lepcon-1, Bafog-1 (S) and Ecobac-1 (EC) at the highest concentrations caused 13%, 10% and 11% corrected mortality at nine days after treatment (DAT), respectively. Cypermethrin was toxic to the pollinating weevils as it killed 100% of the weevils at as early as five DAT. Lepcon-1, Bafog-1 (S) and Ecobac-1 (EC) were also harmless to beneficial insects. Application of these products by spraying at the highest concentrations resulted in low mortality of the beneficial insects, ranging from 8% to 13%. Cypermethrin was toxic to the parasitoids as spraying of the chemical at 7.5% w/w killed 100% of the beneficial insects at as early as five DAT. The laboratory study showed that Lepcon-1, Bafog-1 (S) and Ecobac-1 (EC) were safe for the oil palm pollinating weevils and beneficial insects and, therefore, they are recommended for use in the integrated control of bagworms in oil palm.