They are Different: Molecular Approach on Tirathaba Pest Infesting Oil Palm and Coconut Tree

High infestation rate of Tirathaba mundella was reported from many oil palm plantations established on peat Masijan et al. [1]. The infestation is identified by the presence of long tubes of silk and frass which is built by the pest. The larvae stage of pest does most of the damage by feeding or scraping leaving holes on immature fruitlets. Larvae of early instar stage often attack on male inflorescences while larvae of older instar stage attack on female inflorescences and bunch Yaakop & Manaf [2]. A new damage caused by Tirathaba mundella is visible as moist and reddish brown faeces on brunches while an old damage is characterized as dry and brownish black faeces. Another Tirathaba that also regarded as agricultural pest is Tirathaba fructivora. It was first observed in Fiji and Java, Indonesia Paine [3] and later in Sumatra, Indonesia and Malaysia (Kalshoven, I981). The pest causes destructive effect to the coconut plantation in Philippines. Tirathaba fructivora together with another coconut spike moth, Tirathaba rufivena Walker are making damage to coconut flower. Both pests attack the inflorescence of coconut, causing the young and soft flower to drop off from the plant. Falling of flower prevents the formation of nuts Alouw et al. [4]. Tirathaba fructivora has a total development period of around 25 days from the stage of egg deposition to adult emergence. The newly laid egg of Tirathaba fructivora is white in colour and it turns dark yellow or dark orange when it is about to hatch. Hatching took about 4 days from egg deposition. The larvae have five instars level with a larval stadium of around I7 days and pupal period of around 8 days.