PALO, Leyte (March 6) --- One of the enemies of coconut trees, the coconut leaf beetle or brontispa, has affected 449, 095 trees in 22 towns and three cities in Eastern Visayas region.

According to the Philippine Coconut Authority, 70 percent of the affected trees have already been treated for the brontispa infestation. Treatment was done using mechanical, chemical and biological control and also the use of earwigs, which eats the coconut leaf bettle.

PCA said the pest problem did not have a big effect on the coconut industry since the number of affected trees did not even account for one percent of the 72 million coconut trees in Eastern Visayas.

Early detection and massive treatment as well as information dissemination to coconut farmers also helped the agency to control the infestation.

Bronstipa affected the towns of Allen, Capul, Lavesarez, San Antonio, Victoria, Catarman, Bobon, San Jose, Biri and Pambujan in Northern Samar; Mercedez, Borongan, Giporlos, Guiuan, San Julian, Salcedo and Dolores in Eastern Samar;
Paranas, Calbayog, Gandara, Hinabangan, and Catbalogan in Samar; and Tacloban,
Ormoc and Mahaplag in Leyte.

Brontispa is a pest that feeds on the young coconut leaf causing great damage to seedlings and mature coconut trees thereby killing the young spears and eventually the whole tree.

It is believed to have entered the region through the transport of infested ornamental palms.