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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #269234
Title: The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, a new pest threat in the Caribbean: Biology and options for management

Author
item KAIRO, MOSES - Florida A & M University
item RODA, AMY - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item Mankin, Richard
item DE CHI, WAYNE - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item DAMIAN, THEOPHILO - Ministry Of Agriculture-Netherlands
item FRANKEN, FACUNDO - Ministry Of Agriculture-Netherlands
item HEIDWEILLER, KENNY - Ministry Of Agriculture-Netherlands
item JOHANNS, CLINTON - Ministry Of Agriculture-Netherlands
item LEON, JORGE - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Submitted to: Caribbean Food Crops Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/11/2011
Publication Date: 12/1/2010
Citation: Kairo, M.T., Roda, A., Mankin, R.W., De Chi, W., Damian, T., Franken, F., Heidweiller, K., Johanns, C., Leon, J. 2010. The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, a new pest threat in the Caribbean: Biology and options for management. Caribbean Food Crops Society Proceedings. 46:87-96.

Interpretive Summary: Scientists at the USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, the Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Miami, FL, Port of Spain, Trinidad, and Caracas, Venezuela, the Department of Agriculture, Husbandry and Fisheries, Willemstad, Curacao, and Department of Agriculture, Husbandry and Fisheries, Oranjestad, Aruba have been developing methods for managing and possibly eradicating Red Palm Weevils that recently have invaded Curacao and Aruba in the Caribbean. These weevils have caused extensive economic damage to palm tree crops and ornamentals in India, the Middle East, and Southern Europe and could also cause considerable damage in the southern US if they are not kept from entering. The paper provides a brief summary of current methods available for detecting, controlling, and eradicating the red palm weevil in the Caribbean region.

Technical Abstract: The red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, is a serious pest of palms. RPW is native to Asia, but over the last few decades it has spread to the Middle East, Africa and Europe where it has caused major economic damage. This pest was accidentally introduced to the Caribbean (Curacao and Aruba) probably around 2008 through trade in ornamental palms. In these localities, the pest has caused considerable damage and death to several palm species and it now poses a serious threat to the rest of the region. This paper provides a brief summary of the current knowledge of the pest with particular reference to the neotropics.