NMC unearths dangerous agri pests

The Northern Marianas College yesterday disclosed the discovery of two dangerous insects believed to have been smuggled into the Northern Marianas and have the potential to damage numerous agricultural products on the island.

NMC scientists Lee Eavy of Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service-Integrated Protection Management said Tinian’s IPM team coordinator Arnold Route and Natural Resources Conservation Specialist Sam Palacios discovered the destructive two-striped cucumber beetle on Tinian while Rota IPM coordinator Arnold Badilles discovered the two different species of sweet potato weevils.

The two-striped cucumber beetle attacks wild luffa squash and possibly cucumbers and other cucurbits. The new species has the same destructive power as the more common cucumber beetles that have long been attacking the CNMI’s cucumbers and cucurbits.

The new species feeds on the leaves of the cucurbit plants and robs the nutrients that normally would go to the fruits.

The two-striped cucumber beetles have not been fully identified said Dr. Eavy, adding that the college would like to seek the assistance of the public to capture as many specimens as possible, for examination and identification.

Presently, NMC-CNMI CREES is working closely with local and mainland US entomologists to identify the new species and find management solutions to minimize the possible adverse impact from these new pests.

In addition to this, Dr. Eavy disclosed that scientists from New Zealand, Australia, and Malaysia have offered to assist with the identification of this new pest species.

Management recommendations for this new pests beetle will be announced after the identification and life cycle has been examined and understood.

“These new pests like all the pest problems here, were brought in or smuggled in by someone on plant materials that have not been quarantined. Finding new species of pests give us even more evidence to support the importance of DLNR’s Quarantine Service at the ports, and should make people realize how important it is for them not to try and smuggle in new plants or plant parts into the Marianas Islands. They (exotic pests) arrive without natural predators, and have free lunch at our expense,” he said.

The West Indies Sweet Potato Weevil adds another weevil to the already common and very damaging weevil problems faced by sweet potato growers.

These two species cause similar damage to the potato tubers and stems, damaging up to 50 percent of the sweet potato crop.

NMC scientists are now developing new methods for sampling sweet potato vines for these two weevils, and investigating the possibilities for a second scent lure that would be specific to the new weevil.

Sweet potatoes and cucumbers are major farm products in the Commonwealth and the NMC-CNMI CREES IPM teams are thoroughly studying these newly discovered insects that can jeopardize farm products.

Dr. Eavy encouraged the public to bring specimens of this beetle or any other insects or pest at their farms or household to their local IPM extension agents at the Northern Marianas College “Land Grant” offices.