Common Name: South American palm weevil
Scientific name: Rhynchophorus palmarum
Status in Hawaii: Not known to be present in Hawaii
A species of snout beetle that is a significant pest of coconut, date, and oil palms. The larvae are capable of killing a palm and also serve as a pathway for disease-causing bacteria and nematodes.
Impacts
- A huge risk to Hawaii’s native and endemic palm species.
- Feeds on banana, papaya, cacao, sugar cane, coconut and other palms.
- Adults have been recorded occasionally feeding on avocado and citrus and may be minor pests of these crops under some circumstances.
- Vectors the nematode Bursaphelenchus cocophilus which causes red-ring disease.
- Damage could lead to palm falling over.
Identification
- Egg: Pearly-white, elongate-ovid.
- Larva: Caterpillar-like and legless. Head is orange/brown, abdomen is creamy-white and semi transparent and can grow up to 12.7 cm (5 in) long.
- Pupa: The tough, fibrous cocoon is made from the vascular bundles of the palm after the softer tissues have been eaten away.
- Adult: Deep, dull black, about 3.3 cm (1.3 in) long and can fly.
- Larvae tunnel and feed from the top of a palm tree through the trunk; damage is often undetected until the tree dies and the crown topples.
- Feeding debris (frass) and thick white fluid may ooze from entry holes.
- Gnawing sounds can be heard within a tree when large numbers of larvae are feeding.
Vectors/Commodities
- Palm plants. Spend most of its life and all stages within the tree.
- Can also be found in leaf litter around the base of palm or green waste piles.
- May move through infected plants, like nursery stock.
- May also move short distances through adult flight. Both males and females are considered strong fliers and can fly over half a mile in one flight.
Distribution
- Current: Native to Mexico, Central, and South America.
- The beetle is now making incursions across the southern border of the United States into California, Arizona, and Texas.
Best Management Practices
- This species is not found in Hawaii. Prevention and early detection efforts protect Hawaii’s nursery industry and environment.
- Consider sourcing options and pest distribution when purchasing plants.
- BOLO: Be on the lookout! Carefully inspect all shipments of palms for indications of South American palm weevil.
- Larvae tunnel and feed from the top of a palm tree through the trunk; damage is often undetected until the tree dies and the crown topples.
- Feeding debris (frass) and thick white fluid may ooze from entry holes.
- Gnawing sounds can be heard within a tree when large numbers of larvae are feeding.
- Report any suspect pests to www.643pest.org
Other Nursery Pests
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This material was made possible, in part, by a Cooperative Agreement from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). It may not necessarily express APHIS’ views.
