Sap-Sucking Insects of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) and their Occurrence on Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), Arecanut (Areca catechu L.) and Elaeis oleifera in Kerala State, India

The survey for sap-sucking insects on oil palm during 1993-1994 in Kerala state revealed the presence of one of the world's largest sap-sucking fauna associated with oil palm. More than 225 species of Hemipterans were collected, of which only 111 species could be identified. Among them, 77 species were found feeding on coconut, 49 on arecanut and 50 on the South American oil palm, Elaeis oleifera. The fauna include, two proven vectors of oil palm diseases, Proutista moesta and Stephanitis typica and 10 putative vectors Coelidia sp., Deltocephalus sp., Exitianus sp. I and II, Halyomorpha sp., Nephotettix virescens, Nilaparvatha lugens, Recilia dorsalis, Scaphoideus sp. and Gen. et sp. indet. (Tropiduchidae). The existence of a large sap-sucking community, comprising of 42 species, common to oil palm, coconut and arecanut was not known before. The survey also revealed the occurrence of six more species of Proutista in Kerala. Widespread occurrence of S. typica on oil palm was also observed during the survey. One hundred and four species of Hemipterans on oil palm, 73 species on coconut, 38 species on arecanut and 49 species on E. oleifera are first records for India. The survey also indicated the possible involvement of many vectors in the transmission of palm diseases in Kerala.