Current status of red palm weevil in Turkey

Abstract

The red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) is the most serious pest of palms in Turkey. Weevil infestation was first detected in Turkey in summer 2005 in parks and gardens of Mersin province, along the Mediterreanean coast of Turkey. Following the discovery of the pest, destruction of infested plant material, prophylactic insecticide chemical treatments, as well as adult weevil trapping were carried out on palm plantations. Traps containing a commercial aggregation pheromone were hung on palm trees at a high density, in order to monitor the pest infestation and reduce the weevil population by mass trapping. A significant decrease in the number of trapped beetles and destruction of infested plant material was observed in 2009 and continued in the following years in several cities in Turkey. Therefore, it has been observed that mass trapping and curative pesticide applications have played a significant role in the suppression of R. ferrugineus populations in palm plantations.

Phoenix spp. and other ornamental palms in Turkey: The threat from red palm<br>weevil and red palm scale insects

“…In the infested plantations, all young, offshoot-bearing trees were treated. Remedial actions against the RPW involved stem injection or soil application with imidacloprid SL 200 or SC 350 at different concentrations (Buyukozturk et al, 2011). According to Plant Protection Technical Instructions Book (Anonymous, 2008b), a pit with 20-30 cm depth is burrowed in the ground where the stem of the tree joins the soil then the systemic insecticide is applied with a dose of 35 ml/tree with 10-20 liters of water.…”

Molecular analysis of populations of the invasive species Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, 1790 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Region of Murcia (Spain)

“…Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790), comúnmente llamado "picudo rojo", se ha convertido en una de las especies plaga invasoras más importante de Oriente Medio y del Mediterráneo, provocando grandes pérdidas económicas en todo el mundo en los últimos 30 años (Buyukozturk et al 2011, Faleiro 2006, Gómez & Ferry 1999, Llácer et al 2009, Llácer & Jacas 2010.…”

Behaviour-modifying compounds for management of the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineusOliver)

“…The red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) is one of the major pests of palm species (Arecaceae) in Mediterranean countries . According to the European Commission, RPW is particularly destructive to some of the palm species that are significant components of the Mediterranean landscape, such as Canary Island and date palms, Phoenix canariensis Hort.…”