Basic bio-ecological parameters of the invasive Red Palm Weevil,Rhynchophorus ferrugineus(Coleoptera: Curculionidae), inPhoenix canariensisunder Mediterranean climate

Abstract

The invasive red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), is one of the most destructive pests of palms in the world. Since its detection in the Mediterranean Basin, the ornamental Phoenix canariensis Hort. ex Chabaud has become its main host. This study was aimed at determining the life cycle of R. ferrugineus in live P. canariensis palms. Egg lethal temperature threshold and thermal constant were determined in the laboratory and resulted in 13.1°C and 40.4 degree days (DD), respectively. A semi field assay was carried out in a mesh enclosure where living P. canariensis palms were artificially infested with neonate larvae at one-month intervals from June 2008 to May 2009 under natural conditions. Infested palms were dissected at different time intervals. Maximum mortality rates for R. ferrugineus were observed for palms infested either in December or January (100%), whereas those infested from April through September showed maximum survival rates. Mean monthly temperatures below 10.3°C were lethal for neonate larvae, as 4.5°C were for older immature stages. All recovered larvae could be classed according to one of 13 instars. A thermal constant of 666.5 DD was estimated for complete larval development. Pupal develoment required an additional 282.5 DD. Based on these results and on the temperatures from 46 climatic stations selected in the Iberian Peninsula, less than one generation per year can be expected in areas with mean annual temperature below 15°C and more than two where mean annual temperature is above 19°C.

Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, 1790): Threat of Palms

“…During their lifespan as gravid females around 120 days they could lay up to 530 eggs, being the mean number around 250 eggs. The lower temperature threshold for the egg stage is 13.1°C (Dembilio and Jacas, 2011). Eggs hatch after 2-4 days (at 26°C and 60% RH, (Salama and Abdel Razek, 2002) , into the apodous first instar larvae (Fig.…”

Short communication. Susceptibility of Phoenix theophrasti (Palmae: Coryphoideae) to Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and its control using Steinernema carpocapsae in a chitosan formulation

“…The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is the most destructive pest of palms worldwide (EPPO, 2008(EPPO, , 2009Dembilio and Jacas, 2011). Adult R. ferrugineus are large reddish brown beetles about 3 cm long with a characteristic long curved rostrum.…”

“…A new generation emerges and adults may remain within the same host and reproduce until the palm eventually dies. Subsequently, adults move to new hosts (Dembilio and Jacas, 2011).…”

Short communication: Short and long-term efficacy and phytotoxicity of phosphine against Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in live Phoenix canariensis palms

“…ex Chabaud, an endemic palm to the Canary Islands commonly used as ornamental worldwide. A serious problem coupled with R. ferrugineus is the difficulty of detecting the early stages of infestation due to its cryptic life cycle (Dembilio & Jacas, 2011). As a consequence, strict pre-and post-entry quarantine regulations to prevent further spread have been put in place by affected countries.…”

“…The remaining three palms per assay will be referred to as "healthy". Fourteen days after infestation, six presumably infested (likely containing larvae of different ages up to the VII larval instar; Dembilio & Jacas, 2011) and three healthy palms were moved to the hermetic container for fumigation. The three remaining RPW-exposed palms were kept in the same mesh enclosure where infestation had taken place as a control.…”