Distribution of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in coconut plantations
Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (EPPO Alert List) is a very serious pest of young palms. Early detection is needed to avoid the death of trees, but the pest is difficult to detect. In India, studies have been carried out to determine the spatial distribution of R. ferrugineus in coconut plantations, using pheromone traps, in order to adapt integrated pest management techniques. It was found that R. ferrugineus has an aggregated distribution in coconut plantations, both during periods of high and low activity. The authors note that these results are consistent with those of other studies on the distribution of R. ferrugineus in date plantations in Saudi Arabia, and of Rhynchophorus palmarum (EPPO Alert List) in oil palm plantations in Costa Rica.
Sources
Faleiro, J.R.; Ashok Kumar, J.; Rangnekar, P.A. (2002) Spatial distribution of red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in coconut plantations.
Crop Protection 21(2), pp 171-176.