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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #402684
Research Project: Systematics of Beetles, Flies, Moths and Wasps with an Emphasis on Agricultural Pests, Invasive Species, Biological Control Agents, and Food Security

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Taxonomy, Biology, Symbionts, -Omics, and Management of Rhynchophorus Palm Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae)

Author
item HODDLE, MARK - University Of California, Riverside
item ANTONY, BINU - King Saud University
item EL-SHAFIE, HAMMADTTU - King Faisal University
item Chamorro, Maria
item MILOSAVLJEVIC, IVAN - University Of California, Riverside
item FALEIRO, JOSE - Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations (FAO)

Submitted to: Annual Review of Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/22/2023
Publication Date: 1/26/2024
Citation: Hoddle, M.S., Antony, B., El-Shafie, H.A., Chamorro, M.L., Milosavljevic, I., Faleiro, J. 2024. Taxonomy, Biology, Symbionts, -Omics, and Management of Rhynchophorus Palm Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae). Annual Review of Entomology. 69:455-479. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-013023-121139.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-013023-121139

Interpretive Summary: Palm weevils are extremely destructive pests attacking native, ornamental, and agricultural palm species. Three species have exhibited invasive capabilities, of which one, the Red Palm Weevil, has emerged as a highly successful and widespread invader due to global trade in live palms. A team of scientists has come together to synthesize and provide the most comprehensive compendium on these weevils. This includes current knowledge on invasion history, taxonomy, biology, monitoring, control of palm weevils and future prospects for their management.

Technical Abstract: Palm weevils, Rhynchophorus spp., are extremely destructive pests attacking native, ornamental, and agricultural palm species. Three species have exhibited invasive capabilities, of which one, R. ferrugineus, has emerged as a highly successful and widespread invader due to global trade in live palms. Current knowledge on invasion history, taxonomy, biology, monitoring, and control of palm weevils is examined. Symbionts, including phoretic mites and palm pathogenic nematodes, are reviewed. Emerging -omics research providing insight into the function of DNA and RNA-derived molecules that affect important biological functions in weevils and palm hosts is discussed. Future prospects for palm weevil management such as mass deployment of cheap monitoring tools that exploit the Internet of Things, new association and classical biological control with parasitic tachinid flies, and potential novel control strategies identified from –omics research, are synthesized.