Development and Leaf Area Consumption Rate of Two-Color Coconut Leaf Beetle PIesispa reichei OH Selected Coconut Leaf Stages

Abstract

Plesispa beetle (Plesispo reichei Chapuis) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an important pest of coconut in Sri Lanka. This pest was first reported in 1991 From Gampaha district and is believed to have been accidentally introduced to Sri Lanka (Anon, \ 999). Plesispa reichei mainly infests coconut seedlings. Seldom infestations on mature coconut palms could occur. Little information is available on the biology and feeding habit of this insect species. The objectives of this study were to determine the egg production, incubation period, egg hstchability and developmental times of larval instars of P. re/r /Tel on selected leaf stages under room temperature, and to determine the most suitable coconut lead stsge For the mass rearing of larvae and adults of Plesispa reichei under laboratory conditions.