Red palm weevil
A large reddish weevil whose grubs tunnel inside the trunks and crowns of coconut, date and other palms, often killing them.
Also known as: Asiatic palm weevil
Symptoms and identification
Holes in the trunk or leaf bases ooze brown, foul-smelling liquid, and chewed fibres are pushed out. The central leaves turn yellow and wilt, and in severe cases the crown collapses. Gnawing sounds may be heard inside the trunk.
Causes
Adult weevils lay eggs in wounds on the trunk and leaf bases, often from rhinoceros beetle damage, cut fronds or injuries. The grubs feed hidden inside, so damage is usually noticed late.
Organic treatment
Remove and destroy palms that have collapsed so they do not breed more weevils. Seal holes in lightly affected palms after cleaning them out.
Prevention
Avoid wounding trunks, cut fronds at least 1 m from the trunk, and seal wounds with a tar or Bordeaux paste. Control rhinoceros beetles, whose damage gives the weevil an entry point. Use pheromone traps in plantations.
Chemical treatment (use with care)
Trunk injection or crown treatment with an insecticide labelled for red palm weevil, carried out by a trained person following local agricultural advice.