Impact of active and passive radio tags on the flying and burrowing behavior of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae)

Abstract

The invasive red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) has become the main pest of palms. Because of the cryptic habits of the adult, little is known about the precise movements on palms and the actual dispersal capability in a population. Such data would help to improve risk assessment and management. Miniature radio tags have been increasingly used to monitor movements of animals. In this study, we evaluated the resistance of passive radio frequency identification (RFID) and active radio-transmitters (comprising an antenna) to the burrowing behavior of the insect and their effects on the flight activity. Tagged weevils were placed in boxes filled with fibrous plant material. After 1 week, ca. 90% of insects kept the tag but 83% of the radio-transmitters had a broken antenna. In a screen cage, 100% of insects equipped with RFID flew normally, in contrast to the 17% of insects equipped with active tags. RFID-tagged insects inserted in palm tissue could be easily identified. RFID glued to the thorax affected neither mating behavior nor oviposition. In conclusion, RFID tags appear to be the most efficient tool for tracking the displacement of the weevil in young palms and present new opportunities for promoting studies about gregarious behavior of the red palm weevil on young infected palms.