Current Status of the red palm weevil in Canary Island date palms in recreation areas of Adana province, Turkey

Abstract

The destructive infestation of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver, 1790) in the Canary Island palm trees (Phoenix canariensis L.) grown as ornamentals was first detected in Adana province, Turkey in 2007. For 4 years (2007-2010) following the discovery of the pest damage, preventative and curative treatments of chemical insecticides as well as weevils trapping and sanitation efforts were carried out in Adana. Additionally, natural infestations with the entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, (Poinar, 1975) on the weevil individuals were also evaluated. A significant decrease in number of captured beetles by traps was found in 2009 and continued following year. The sex ratio of captured adults was significantly female-biased (~ %70 of total catch was females). Seasonal mortality rate by the EPN in the total larval population (total 1304 specimens) of R. ferrugineus was 50%. EPN resulted in a significant mortality rate (85%) in the pupae population (total 656 specimens). EPN also killed a few adults, corresponding to 1-5% of the mortality rate. The fact that no new infestation on date palm trees has been found since 2010, indicating that control efforts including trapping, prophylactic chemical insecticide treatments and natural infestation of the EPN have been successful in reduction of the RPW populations in Adana province.