The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv, is an economically important, tissue-boring pest of date palm in the Arab Gulf region. The agroclimatic conditions and the unique morphology of the palm trees offer an ideal ecological habitat for the pest. The components of the current management system are: (1) national surveys, for detecting infestations, using visual examination of palm tress and monitoring the presence of weevils with pheromone traps, (2) developing a pheromone-food baited program for monitoring and mass trapping the weevils, (3) implementing mechanical and agricultural control methods, mainly by identifying and eliminating the weevil breeding sites and by sanitation, (4) preventative and curative chemical treatments, (5) finding economically acceptable and biological alternatives, (6) implementing quarantine measures, and (7) training farmers. Research methods and practical tools necessary to implement the above components of the management system are presented. Difficulties of detecting and managing this pest are discussed.
Species 1: Coleoptera Curculionidae Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (red palm weevil)
Keywords: Pheromones, Insect Trapping
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA