Red palm weevil: Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Symptoms of damage

• Rhinoceros beetle attacked palms are more prone to infestation by red palm weevil.
• Grubs bore into stem and feed on softer tissues of stem, meristem and mesocarp of fruits.
• Infested palms - gradual wilting and drying of outer whorl of fronds.
• In severe - rotting of spear.
• Red palm weevil lays eggs on injuries made by rhinoceros beetle on bunches.
• Larvae feed on the mesocarp of fruits and penetrate into peduncle for pupation.
• Infestation causes qualitative and quantitative loss of the fruits.

Identification of the pest

Pupa	Emerging from coccon	Adult

Management

• Ripe bunches are to be harvested in time. Avoid making wounds on the palm and bunches.
• Prophylactic leaf axil filling is to be done for young palms as in the case of rhinoceros beetle.
• Trunk injection with carbaryl 50% WP at 1% is an effective curative treatment.
  

Attractants
a. Pheromone traps

• Ferrolure placed in specially designed traps and hanged on the palms

• Weevils are trapped and destroyed using split logs of coconut/oil palm or petioles (50 cm long) treated with

attractants such as coconut toddy, macerated grapes, cashew apple, pineapple and molasses