What damage can the red palm weevil cause?

Red Palm Weevil larvae feed within the apical growing point of the palms creating extensive damage to palm tissues and weakening the structure of the palm trunk. Palms damaged by RPW may exhibit the following symptoms: (1) presence of tunnels on the trunk or base of fronds.

What kills palm weevil?

You can inject systematic insecticides directly into palm trunks as well. Applying systematic insecticides to the soil helps to eliminate the weevils in the egg stage. When you use insecticide as a palm weevil treatment, you must repeat the application two or three times every year.

Are palm weevils invasive?

The South American palm weevil, Rhynchophorus palmarum, is also an invasive pest of palms and can be found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Rhynchophorus palmarum can vector a nematode, Bursaphelenchus cocophius, that causes red-ring disease in coconut.

How do I get rid of palm tree beetles?

This is because the bugs are attracted to the sap that trees excrete when pruned, and can infect a tree through ‘wounds’ in the trunk. To protect against infestation, palms should be sprayed with chemical insecticides (clorpirifos 48%, imidacloprid) or nematodes (or a combination of the two) as a preventative measure.

Do palm weevils fly?

Lab testing of the flight capability of the weevil Rhynchophorus palmarum shows some “super-flyers” can fly more than 100 kilometers in 24 hours. With the species appearing recently on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, the findings are a concern for California’s $100 million date palm industry.

What do red palm weevil eat?

The weevil is a major pest of date palms, as well as coconut, oil palm, and sago palm. It also attacks a wide range of ornamental palms. The damage is done by the adult and larvae (grubs) boring into the soft inside of palms as well as feeding on the leaves. The larvae can make tunnels up to a metre long.

What do palm beetles look like?

They have black abdomens and red heads, and their larvae are oblong and cream or white in color. The insects lay their eggs on a palm trunk, and once they hatch into larvae, they burrow their way inside the tree — killing it from the inside out.

What does palm weevil eat?

The weevil is a major pest of date palms, as well as coconut, oil palm, and sago palm. It also attacks a wide range of ornamental palms. The damage is done by the adult and larvae (grubs) boring into the soft inside of palms as well as feeding on the leaves.

Are weevils invasive?

Several weevil species have gained notice recently in agricultural sectors of Mexico for the damage they have caused and their abundance in various crops and, therefore, represent possible invasive pests for other regions of the world (Pérez-De la O et al.

How do you deal with weevils infestation?

Eliminate Grain Weevils

  1. Discard any infested foods.
  2. Vacuum pantry shelves, cracks, and crevices.
  3. Wipe shelves with white vinegar.
  4. Dispose of garbage and vacuum bags outside, away from the home.
  5. Check regularly for reappearance — it may take awhile to get rid of them completely.