Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Red palm weevil

General

The red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), also known as palm weevil, Asian palm weevil or Sago Palm Weevil originates from tropical Asia, but has spread to Africa and Europe with distribution through the Mediterranean since the 1980s.

Life cycle and appearance of Red palm weevil

The adults of the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) are typical weevils: the head extends with a long thin rostrum that holds the antennae and tiny mandibles. The size and colour of adult weevils greatly varies. Most individuals in the Mediterranean area are about 30 mm long, with females 10 to 15% larger than males. This makes them the largest weevil of Europe and North Africa. Their colour ranges from entirely orange-red to all black with all intermediates, depending on the number and size of black marks.

Eggs are creamy white, shiny and oblong. Larvae are creamy white, legless, pyriform with a brown head and body comprised of 13 segments. Fully grown larvae migrate to the periphery of the palms to build a solid elongated cocoon made of rolled-up palm fibres. After the cocoon is formed the larva enters a pre-pupal stage, its body contracts and it does not crawl any more. The future adult organs are well visible on the pupa.

How to get rid of Red palm weevil