Applied Entomology and Zoology (2010) 45, 137-144

Keiji Takasu, Shun-Ichiro Takano, Kazuhiko Konishi and Satoshi Nakamura (2010)
An invasive pest Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) attacks an endemic palm in the Yaeyama Islands, Japan
Applied Entomology and Zoology 45 (1), 137-144
Abstract: The coconut hispine beetle Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is considered native to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, and it has been established and causing serious leaf damages on Cocos nucifera (L.) in Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Although this insect was found on only C. nucifera in the Yaeyama Islands, Japan in the 1980s, it was unknown whether it had established in the islands and whether it attacked the endemic palm Satakentia liukiuensis (Hatusima) H. E. Moore. We conducted field surveys in the Yaeyama Islands in 2007 to 2009 to determine whether B. longissima causes serious damages on S. liukiuensis in the islands. Although B. longissima infested leaves of the young trees in most nurseries or roadsides on Ishigaki, Iriomote and Kohama islands, no serious damage was observed on wild mature trees of the S. liukiuensis communities, which are protected as national natural monuments. All the developmental stages of B. longissima were found in November 2008 and May 2009. The present study first shows that B. longissima is common and attacks the endemic palm S. liukiuensis as a main host in the Yaeyama Islands where C. nucifera is very rare.
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Database assignments for author(s): Keiji Takasu, Satoshi Nakamura, Kazuhiko Konishi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Brontispa longissima	Coconut (Cocos nucifera)	Japan
	Brontispa longissima	Satakentia liukiuensis	Japan