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Symphylids (Scutigerella immaculata and related species) are small (2 to 8 mm) white centipede-like arthropods that live in the top 20 cm of soil. They feed on root tips of establishing pineapple plants, causing patchy stands and slow start-up on replant blocks. On heavily infested blocks whole planting rows fail. Regional priority: High in Hawaii, Australia, and Latin America on replant blocks. Moderate elsewhere.

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When pineapple is most vulnerable

At planting to establishment (months 0 to 3). Once the root system is established, symphylid damage is minor.

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How symphylids show in satellite data

  • Patchy establishment shows as low, uneven NDVI in the first 3 months.
  • Distinguish from drought and soil variability by soil sampling and direct symphylid counts.

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Field symptoms

  • Patchy, weak establishment with rows of failed plants
  • Slow, stunted growth on surviving plants
  • Root tips chewed off, root system reduced to short stubs
  • White centipede-like arthropods in the topsoil around the plant base - the diagnostic sighting
  • Best confirmed by digging a soil sample in a plastic bag and warming it in the sun; symphylids move to the surface

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Reduce the damage by

  • Pre-plant soil sampling on replant blocks to count symphylids before deciding.
  • Pre-plant soil fumigation (metam sodium, 1,3-dichloropropene) on chronic blocks where regulations allow.
  • Long fallow with a non-host crop (grass) reduces populations.
  • Green manure incorporation (mucuna, sunn hemp) suppresses symphylids.
  • Deep plowing before planting disrupts populations in the top 20 cm.
  • In-furrow insecticide at planting (ethoprop, where registered) on known infested blocks. Chlorpyrifos was withdrawn from agricultural use in Malaysia in 2023 and its registration ended on 1 July 2026 - see Pesticide registration.
  • Do not replant immediately into a symphylid-heavy block - the establishment loss is permanent.

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Set an alert for early warning

Turn the diagnosis into a trigger. Symphylids are a pre-plant decision, so schedule sampling and stand-count alerts.
Recommended settings for symphylids on pineapple:
  • Pre-replant sampling reminder - schedule symphylid soil sampling 2 months before any planned replant.
  • Establishment stand-count alert - flag any block with more than 15% gap count at 8 weeks after planting.
  • NDVI establishment alert - trigger on any block with NDVI below 0.15 at 8 weeks after planting (BRIS and mineral upland).