Beetle larvae threaten root crops and tubers

A BEETLE larvae is eating away tubers and root crops in the Zap Valley of Leron-Wantoat in Markham, Morobe, a local council manager says.
It is not known how serious or widespread the problem is but Leron-Wantoat local level government council manager Sema Mainao said the situation was severe.
Mainao said the larvae, looking like black beetle larvae or large maggots, were destroying tubers and root crops such as taro, banana, yam, peanuts, onions, vegetables and any food plants in gardens.
“This larvaes are eating away anything and everything causing the crops to wither and dry,” she said.
National Agriculture Research Institute (Nari) information and knowledge management programme director Dr Sim Sar said that based on the photographs, they were beetle larvae, scientifically known as Coleoptera.
“We need to rear these through adults to confirm the identification of the insects, when was it first observed and how widespread is the damage and if the grubs are actually damaging the root crops,” Sar said.
Sar is asking people in Wantoat to bring live specimens either the larvae of the insect or adults for identification before recommending control options.
“What is the climate like in the past six months and are there much logs rotting in the area since these provide good breeding sites for the beetles,” Sar said. Mainao said the damage had been serious since August.
He said Zaps village, which supplies markets at Wantoat Station, Mutzing and Lae with most garden produce, were being affected.