Information on the biology and ecology of insect pests is required for scientific pest management. For this, laboratory and field studies are necessary. Based on the information generated, appropriate pest management strategies could be undertaken.
Pest Management
Various pest management strategies such as application of pesticides, cultural methods or biological control can be adopted. Chemical control of several forest pests have been adopted which include management of Albizia bagworm Pteroma plagiophleps, Albizia bark caterpillar Indarbela quadrinotata, Gmelina tingid Tingis beesoni, Anthocephalus defoliator etc.
Application of biological control is also quite promising for tackling various forest pests. Biological control is the use of natural enemies for regulating insect pest populations. Natural enemies may be predators, parasites or pathogens. The following topics were covered.
- Model prototype project for commercial mass production of biological control agents.
- Guidelines for the biological control of insect pests of forest and priority crops.
- Mass rearing techniques for the multiplication of biological control agents of insect pests.
- Guidelines for the involvement of private sector to start mass production of biological control agents.
Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures
SPS measures are quarantine and biosecurity measures undertaken for protecting human, animal and plant life from risks arising from the introduction, establishment and spread of pests and diseases and from risks caused by toxins and contaminants in food and feed. The following topics were covered.
- SPS Agreement
- Protocol for conducting plant pest surveillance
- Insect collection techniques and database preparation
- Insect sampling methods
- Pest risk assessment
- Database for insect collections
- Plant quarantine protocol
- Documentation of insect pests of agricultural crops
- Documentation of forest insects
- Preparation of insect pest lists for potential priority crops subject to market access negotiation/export
- Documentation of seed pests and their control
- Documentation of timber beetles and their management