Rhynchophorus ferrugineus
Red palm weevil
Description
Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is a relatively large beetle, body length 2 - 4 cm. It has a characteristic orange-brown color, while it is very variable in color, and some individuals often have dark spots of various shapes, numbers and sizes on the elytra. Larvae of this species gnaw in the trunks of palm trees up to a meter long corridors with a diameter of 3-4 cm. This weakens the palms. This species comes from Asia. From there it spread to Africa and Europe, in the 80\'s it came to the Mediterranean. It first appeared in Spain in 1994, and in France in 2006. Today, it is widespread in coastal areas and causes decline of palm trees.
Symptom
Infested palm trees first lose their green color - the color of the leaves changes to green-gray. The leaves dry and the palm gradually declines. Large openings are visible on the trunks, the presence of this species is sometimes revealed by dead adults around the trunk or cocoons, in which the pupa is hidden, about 5 cm in size.
Tree Species: Palm Tree
Part of a plant- attacked: Tree trunk
Pest significance: Very harmful
Pest Category: Insects
Invasive Species: Yes
Present in EU: Yes
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