Tocama laevipennis

Tocama laevipennis is a species of beetle belonging to the family Scarabaeidae within the order Coleoptera. This pest is primarily found in Southeast Asia, where it poses a significant threat to forestry and commercial fruit orchards by feeding on the foliage of various woody plant species.

The pest targets a wide range of fruit-bearing trees, including mango and durian, as well as several species of deciduous forest trees. Adult beetles are characterized by their nocturnal activity, which makes them difficult to detect and complicates timely monitoring and control efforts within the orchard environment.

The biological life cycle of Tocama laevipennis includes the egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Larvae develop within the soil, feeding on plant roots, which significantly weakens the trees' vigor and structural integrity. Adult beetles, in turn, actively consume leaf tissue, sometimes leading to complete defoliation of the branches.

The damage caused by this pest is typically manifested as irregular edge chewing and skeletonization of the leaf blades. In cases of massive infestation, the pest can cause extensive leaf loss, which severely reduces photosynthetic activity, suppresses plant growth, and leads to substantial yield losses in orchards.

To protect plantations from this pest, the following management strategies are employed:

• Regular monitoring using light traps to track the peak flight activity of adults.
• Soil treatment around the root zone with insecticides to target the larval stage.
• Foliar spraying of tree canopies with systemic insecticides during the peak feeding period.
• Hand-picking and manual destruction of adult beetles during their active night hours.
• Implementing robust agronomic practices to improve overall tree health and resistance.