Evaluation of the Damage Caused by the Bamboo Caterpillar (Omphisa fuscidentalis) in Sweet Giant Bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus) at the Royal Agricultural Station Pangda, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

The present study reports on the damage caused by the bamboo caterpillar, Omphisa fuscidentalis to the sweet giant bamboo, Dendrocalamus latiflorus, growing in the Royal Agricultural Station Pangda, Samoeng district, Chiang Mai province. During a period from September 2020 to February 2021, the number of bamboo caterpillars, external effects and internal damage characteristics were determined to be used as basic information while providing guidelines for identifying bamboo species suitable for rearing bamboo caterpillars. The results showed that the average number of bamboo caterpillars were 190 larvae/culm. The average number of damaged internodes was 14 internodes/culm. Although the diameter of internodes was unaffected by the bamboo caterpillar, damaged internodes were located at 9th–13th positions, which experienced high levels of damage, and were shortened by an average of 5 internodes per culm. This reduction in length accounted for approximately 48.8% of the damage to the lower part of the internode. Furthermore, the study revealed that wood penetrated the cracks in the bamboo culm, particularly in the area with short internodes. These highly damaged internodes had the highest percentage of bamboo pulp and wood consumption, approximately 70%, but the upper internodes of damaged internodes continued to develop. Based on the results, it was observed that the sweet giant bamboo exhibited a higher quantity and weight of bamboo caterpillars/culm compared to the usual numbers. The study recorded the highest number of bamboo caterpillars at 484 larvae/culm. These findings suggest that the sweet giant bamboo can serve as a guideline for conducting further studies aimed at increasing the yields of bamboo caterpillars/culm.