Common name: Red palm weevil
Scientific name: Rhynchophorus ferrugineus
Status in Hawaii: Not known to be present in Hawaii
A species of snout beetle that is known as the most destructive palm pest in the world.
Impacts
- Most destructive palm pest in the world especially to coconut, date, sage, and oil palms.
- Huge risk to Hawaii’s native and endemic palm species.
- Adults can vector a nematode which causes red-ring disease of palms (although the two species have not yet been found to occur simultaneously).
- Damage could lead to the palm falling over.
Identification
- Egg: Whitish-yellow, smooth, shiny, cylindrical w/rounded ends.
- Larva: Creamy white to ivory, grow up to about 5 cm (2 in).
- Adult: Avg 3.8 cm (1.5 in) long, red to reddish brown and black with variable patterns. Adults 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. Spends most of its life and all stages within the tree.
- May also move short distances as an adult by flying.
- Can also be found in leaf litter around the base of palm or green waste pile.
Distribution
- Native to SE Asia
- Distribution: Africa, Asia, Europe, Caribbean, Oceania
Best Management Practices
- This species is not found in Hawaii. Prevention and early detection is required to prevent new incursions and establishment.
- Consider sourcing options and pest distribution when purchasing plants.
- BOLO: Be on the lookout! Carefully inspect palms for symptoms:
- 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.
