Invasion of red palm weevil among three different imported varieties of Date Palm

Background:

The date palm, or Phoenix dactylifera L., is a significant fruit crop and a source of income for many nations. The invasive bug Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790), often known as the red palm weevil (RPW), causes harm to the date palms all over the world via eating the internal stems of palm trees.

Aims:

The purpose of this study is to identify the susceptible and resistant kinds of R. ferrugineus and to investigate its population dynamics in three different imported date palm varieties: Dhakki, Bari, and Ajwa.

Methodology:

In a date palm orchard in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, red palm weevil (RPW) adults, larvae, and pupae were monitored. Using a stethoscope to listen for larval feeding sounds and by examining symptoms like yellowish discharges and disagreeable smells, infestations were found. As previously noted, three kinds of imported date palm were chosen, and monthly records of RPW population dynamics were made. Three orchards containing eighteen trees (three of each kind) were examined. Using a drill machine, immature and mature RPW stages were gathered, counted, and then put back into the trunk, which was sealed with soil paste containing 1 ml of chlorpyrifos water.

Results:

Our research findings indicate that the Dhakki variety of date palm experienced the highest levels of infestation across both age groups examined. Specifically, plants aged between ten and fifteen years, as well as those older than sixteen years, were significantly impacted by red palm weevil (RPW) infestations. The Dhakki variety was found to be particularly vulnerable to RPW infestations during the months of January to March, likely due to environmental conditions or the life cycle of the weevil during this period. This timing allows for proactive measures to be taken before the peak infestation period, thereby reducing the potential for significant damage to the Dhakki date palms.