The Agricultural Extension Department has revealed that some 211 million parasitoid wasps will be released throughout the country to combat a pest that has been destroying coconut plantations.
The pest is a black-headed caterpillar with the scientific name of Opisina arenosella Walker. Its capacity for damaging crops has proven a consistent bane to farmers, said Panpimon Chunyanuwat, Director-General of the Department.
To combat this problem, the Department plans to breed and release parasitoid wasps. Around 8.8 million will be released each week from October 6, 2013 to April 9, 2013 totaling 211.2 million for the entire 24-week period, the Bangkok Post reported.
