Fluctuations in the population density of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Curculionidae : Coleoptera)‎ in Ismailia governorate, Egypt

Abstract EN

The Regional Research Station for Delta East, Qassasin, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt., planted with four varieties of date palm trees (Zaghlool, barhi, hayani and samani).

Eight aggregation pheromone traps were `uniformly distributed around 200 of palm trees (50 of each variety).

Adult of red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Curculionidae : Coleoptera) was collected twice monthly during the two successive years (2017-2018 and 2018-2019) to study the fluctuations in the population density of the red palm weevil R.

ferrugineus on four types of date palm trees.

Results were conducted on the percentages of date palm trees affected by red palm weevil.

The percentages of infection with RPW were recorded, 48%, 42%, 34% and 30% for zaghlool, barhi, hayani and samani, respectively.

In the first year of study total collected adults of RPW by pheromone traps were recorded 937 from all varieties.

Zaghlool, barhi, hayani and samani varieties were recorded, 29.5% , 25.8% , 23.2% and 21.6%, respectively.

In the second year of study total collected adults of RPW by pheromone traps were recorded 1114 from all varieties.

Zaghlool, barhi, hayani and samani varieties were recorded, 28.5% , 24.7% , 23.9% and 23%, respectively.

The results were showed that, April and May recorded the highest percentage of collected adults of RPW on zaghlool, barhi and samani varieties, while hayani variety was recorded the highest percentage of collected adults of RPW in March during the two successive years of study.

Also, the correlations between the percentage of collected adults of RPW and climatic factors (Temperature and humidity) were studied.