The date palm industry faces severe problems caused by the red palm weevil. But this can be controlled using the traditional pipe method or pressure pump with a recommended pesticide.
When the red palm weevil infects a tree, it enters into the trunk and weakens the palm tree resulting into poor quality fruits. The first sign of red palm weevil attack is the discovery of an active nest on the trunk cavity resulting into a brown sticky and smelly section flowing from the nasty entry pore. Another sign is the seeing saw dust like tissue on the stem.
Control methods
You can prevent attack of the red palm weevil in the first place by smearing freshly cut frowns with sulphur or ash or spray them with pesticides. These repel away the weevils.
You can control the weevils using traditional pipe method or a pressure pump with a recommended pesticide but always wear protective gear when handling pesticides.
With the pipe method, make 4 to 5 holes 10cm above the hall of the nest at an angle that will enable the pesticide flow into the trunk by gravity. Mix recommended pesticide at recommended doses and drain it into the trunk using a bottle. The major challenge with this method is that sometimes less pesticide reaches the nest to kill the pupating larvae.
Automatic pump
To use the pump machine, identify the position of the weevil nest and set up the machine to drill holes 15 to 20 cm above the nest location. Connect the drill to the pump. Fill the tank with an approved pesticide and pump it into the tree trunk.
After applying the pesticides, cover up the small holes and mark the treated trees then monitor for about 3 months.
For trees with bigger infestations, the damage might be irreversible and even the pesticide won‘t work. All you have to do is cut and burn/ burry the trunk.
