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Research activities focused on management of red palm weevil at the UJI‐IVIA Associated Unit (Region of Valencia, Spain)
Author(s) -
Jacas J. A.,
Dembilio Ó.,
Llácer E.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
eppo bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.327
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1365-2338
pISSN - 0250-8052
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2338.2011.02460.x
Subject(s) - rhynchophorus , weevil , beauveria bassiana , imidacloprid , toxicology , biology , pyriproxyfen , horticulture , biological pest control , pesticide , agronomy
During the past 5 years, the Associated Unit between Institut Valencià d’Investigacions Agràries (IVIA) and Universitat Jaume I (UJI) has been working on the management of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus . The host status of Washingtonia filifera , Chamaerops humilis and Phoenix theophrasti was established, and complete resistance via antibiosis was described for W. filifera . A thermal constant (egg to adult) of 989.3 degree‐days has been established for R. ferrugineus when feeding in live P. canariensis . Based on this result, less than one annual generation is expected in areas with mean annual temperature below 15°C, and more than two if above 19°C. Assays on chemical control showed that a dose of 1.14 g aluminium phosphide m −3 for 3 days is enough to kill all stages of R. ferrugineus in infested palms. The efficacies of imidacloprid and a microencapsulated paint containing chlorpyrifos and pyriproxyfen were also studied. Imidacloprid had high efficacies when applied as a drench either as a preventive or a curative treatment, whereas the paint was effective as a preventive treatment only. Biological control by use of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi has been explored. Steinernema carpocapsae resulted in high efficacies when applied in a chitosan formulation. Beauveria bassiana also gave very good results, and new assays are under way to improve its use.