Present situation of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in Israel
In Israel, surveillance and control of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae – EPPO Alert List) started in spring 1999, in the south of the Jordan Valley (see EPPO RS 99/119). The area of infestation was delimited and the following phytosanitary measures were taken:
- R. ferrugineus was declared a quarantine pest, and the infested area was delimited on the basis on adult catches with aggregation pheromone traps (it included 600 ha of date palm plantations).
- Mass trapping was organized (at first 10-12 traps/ha, then decreased in 2000 to 1 trap/0.7 ha in infested areas and to 1 trap/3 ha in non-infested areas).
- Chemical treatments of infested trees.
- Destruction of heavily infested trees.
- Preventive measures to avoid infestations (drip irrigation to maintain trunk dry, removal of offshoots, preventive sprays on trunks).
- Regular inspections.
After 4 years of surveillance and control, the number of catches was reduced from 324 in 2000 to 26 in 2002, and no new infested tree was found in 2002.
Sources
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Hamburger, M.; Bitton, S.; Nakache, J. (2003) Control of red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a quarantine pest in Israel.
Abstract of a paper presented at the 20th Conference of the Entomological Society of Israel (Bet Dagan, IL, 2003-02-11/12).
Phytoparasitica, 31(3), 299-300.
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