Abstract
The survey on various parameters showed that the degree of orchard infestation fluctuated by time
period/seasons, so attack of red palm weevil varied on different months of the year during the study
period. It was observed that this insect pest had significantly higher (16%) infestation in the months of
June, July and August, during experimental period. The least attack (8%) of the weevil was in the
months of January, September, October, November and December in both the years (2007 and 2008).
Place of infestation of weevil on date palm stem revealed that the pest infestation was mostly
concentrated at the base of trunk (up to 50 cm height) and 75 to 82% of total weevil infestations were
located at the base of palm trunk. Spirotetramat insecticide was found most efficient treatment to
control red palm weevil infestation/damage, which recovered (43%) damaged date palm trees, followed
by Fipronil (33%), Chlorpyrifos (26%) and Methidathion (19%) during the year 2007 and 2008.
Key words: Red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, chemical control, date palm
