RED PALM WEEVIL IN KUWAIT

Introduction

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv., also called the Indian palm weevil, is well known in the Middle East where it causes severe damage on date palms (FAO, 2002). The RPW was first noted in the Arabian Peninsula in the mid 1980's and in Egypt in 1992. The weevil was first observed in Kuwait in late 1980's and spread throughout Kuwait in 1993 (FAO, 2002). The weevil was first observed in United Arab Emirates in 1985. Approximately, 5 to 6 % of palms in the Middle East region are infested with the RPW with an annual rate of infection of about 1.9 (FAO, 2002).
In this article we present the current situation of the red palm weevil in Kuwait, to demonstrate the seriousness of this pest and the high risk of its arrival to the Arabian Gulf countries. In these countries, the main palm species concerned are Phoenix dactylifera, the main crop and ornamental species in the area, but it could attack some others ornamental palms (Barranco et al. 2000). Our purpose is to emphasize the need for urgent and strong prophylactic measures to avoid new catastrophes and for the reinforcement of co-operative international research against this pest.
The red palm weevil is a member of Coleoptera: Curculionidae. The male and female adults are large reddish brown beetles about 3 cm long and with a characteristic long curved rostrum; with strong wings, they are capable of undertaking long flights.

Damage to palms is produced mainly by the larvae. Adult females lay about 350 eggs at the base of young leaves or in wounds to the leaves and trunks; the grubs feed on the soft fibers and terminal bud tissues. They reach a size of more than 5 cm before pupation. Except just before pupating, they move towards the interior of the palm making tunnels and large cavities. They can be found in any place within the palm, even in the very base of the trunk where the roots emerge.
Pupation occurs generally outside the trunk, at the base of the palms. The larva pupates in a cocoon made of brown dried palm fibers.
Overlapping generations with all life stages can be present within the same palm tree. Generally the adult weevils present in a palm will not move to another one while they can feed on it.
Usually the damage caused by the larvae is visible only long after infection, and by the time the first symptoms of the attack appear, they are so serious that they generally result in the death of the tree. This late detection of the presence of the weevil constitutes a serious problem in the fight against the pest and in any attempt to guarantee pest-free status in adult trees. Despite research carried out so far, no safe techniques for early detection of the pest have been devised.
In Kuwait, very soon after the red palm weevil killed the first Phoenix dactalyfera in Alshalihat and Alwafra agriculture area, the authorities initiated various actions to combat the pest.
Intensive chemical treatments have been used to protect the Phoenix palms and to try to cure affected trees. Despite the difficulty in operating in the public gardens environment, foliage spraying has been conducted with various insecticides. Preventive treatment of all the palms, even healthy ones.
A program of mass trapping using aggregation pheromone and semi-synthetic kairomone has been initiated (Esteban-Durán et al. 1998). But despite all these efforts, more than 800 Phoenix have been killed.

Conclusions

Even when important and costly means are dedicated to combat the red palm weevil, an efficient solution to fight against it when it first arrives is still missing
However, the main ornamental tall palms planted in the gardens and in the streets of the Mediterranean coast cities are date palms. Thousands of them are imported from Egypt each year directly or indirectly into Spain and other European countries. These palms must have a phytosanitary passport but in specimens such as adult date palms, a large quantity of hidden insects and diseases, can evidently remain undetected, even after very careful phytosanitary scrutiny, and this is, of course, the case red palm weevil eggs and larvae.
In response to the appearance of the red palm weevil, the Kuwaiti government forbidding the importation of palms from countries where pests of the group of Rhynchophorus have been recorded.