Localized outbreak of coconut black headed caterpillar, Opisina arenosella Walker (Oecophoridae: Lepidoptera) was reported from Kanniyakon bordering three panchayats viz., Vechoor, Arpookara and Kallara in Kottayam district, Kerala during November 2024 by the Agricultural Officer, Vechoor. ICAR-CPCRI sprang into action by augmentative release of the stage specific parastioids viz., Goniozus nephantidis and Bracon brevicornis on 19-11-2024 on the pest inflicted gardens with the support of Department of Agriculture Development & Farmers' Welfare, Govt. of Kerala. In addition, officials from the Parasite Breeding Station, Kozha, Kottayam district also supplied the parastioids for the augmentative release programme.

On 06 December, 2024 ICAR-CPCRI convened an awareness campaign empowering the role of bioagents in the bio-suppression of black headed caterpillar. The programme was spearheaded by Dr Regi J. Thomas, Head, ICAR-CPCRI, Regional Station, Kayamkulam and technical session on the augmentative release of stage specific parastioids was handled by Dr A. Joseph Rajkumar, Principal Scientist and Dr Jilu V. Sajan, Scientist of the Regional Station. A technical folder on the “Integrated management of coconut black headed caterpillar” was distributed to all the participating farmers. Later the scientific team in collaboration with the State Department of Agriculture and Parasite Breeding Station visited the affected coconut plantation at Kanniyakon and re-released more than 500 parastioids. Currently, about 50 ha area were badly affected with around 85% pest damage. The pupal parasitoid, Brachymeria nosatoi was recovered from the affected gardens indicating the biodiversity driven approach is pest suppression. The coconut community in the region was highly convinced of the success of the technology and the interventions made by ICAR-CPCRI in the bio-suppression of the pest.