OFFİCİAL PEST REPORTİNG & RHYNCHOPHORUS FERRUGİNEUS (Oliv.)

Status of Report

Preliminary

Identity of Pest

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliv.)
(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Red Palm Weevil

Host(s) or Article(s) concerned

Palm plants ; mainly Phoenix canariensis,
P. dactilifera and Washingtonia sp.

Status of Pest (under ISPM 8)

Present: only in some areas,
Present at low prevalence

Geografical Distribution

R. ferrugineus were captured on pheromon traps at four locations in Turkey in 2006. Rhynchophorus ferrugineus has been found in some provinces on palm plants.
These locations were: Antalya(Merkez district, Kundu village, Manavgat district-Kızılağaç location, Serik district), Mersin(Merkez district), Izmir(Ozdere village).

Nature of immediate or potential danger, or other reason for reporting

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is a quarantine organism. It takes place in EPPO quarantine A2 list. The Pest Risk Analysis was initiated because R. ferrugineus was recently introduced into Turkey during the importation.

 The phytosanitary measures against the pest are very difficult and expensive because the insect can stay all of its life circle inside the plant. When the damages are not very big, it is difficult to detect the pest because, firstly, produces only internal damages. Other difficulty is the detection of the insect when the life stage is first larva instars or egg.   

The pest remains viable in transit as long as the host plants remained alive. When the insect leaves the infected plant can fly and can attack other healthy plants.

Plants for planting of Palmae from countries where R.  ferrugineus occurs and spread by cut branches and the natural spread by flying are important.

Short Description or Summary

In the Turkey, in province of Antalya during the quarantine inspections, imported palm trees were found infected with R.  ferrugineus in 2005. After identification of the pest,  surveys were made in 2006. R.  ferrugineus were captured on pheromon traps at three locations.

These locations were:
in Mediterranean region – province of Antalya (Merkez district, Kundu village, Manavgat district-Kızılagac location, Serik district) and

province of Mersin (Merkez district),

in Agean region – province of Izmir (Ozdere village).

Additional Links

http://www.palmiyemerkezi.com/kpbmakale_ed.pdf
archives.eppo.org/EPPOReporting/2007/Rse-0701.pdf

Issues Keywords

Pest Risk Analysis/PRA, Surveillance,
Pest reporting, Phytosanitary Measures,

Commodity Keywords

Palm plants,

Contact for more Information

NPPO of Turkey