Cost Benefit Analysis of Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Control in Date Palm Trees Farms at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

The red palm weevil, RPW, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) is considered a dangerous palm pest in Egypt. Field trials were conducted at new Selhia district, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt during two seasons, 2022/2023 and 2023/2024. Results obtained showed that the palm trees infestation rate reached 17.95 and 19.44% in farm 1, 26.28 and 23.33% in farm 2; 28.84 and 26.11% in farm 3, in the two seasons, respectively. Whereas, the infestation rate reached 26.92 and 31.11% in the control farm without mass trapping of adult weevils, in the two seasons, respectively. The infestation rate with RPW increased from 46.42% in the 2022/2023 season to 53.57 % in the 2023/2024 season. Statistical analysis showed a highly positive significant difference between RPW infestation rate in date palm trees in farms with pheromone traps and the infestation rate in the control farm (without pheromone traps). Statistical analysis of date palm yield showed no significant difference between low and moderate weevil infestation in the two growing seasons. Generally used mass pheromone traps in IPM to control RPW, considered as a dangerous date palm pest in Egypt.

Keywords:

: Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), date palm, aggregation pheromone, cost benefit analysis, pests control