Mycobiota associated with adults of red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) from Cascais, Portugal.

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) is one of the most severe pests of various palm species in many regions of Asia, Africa and Europe. In Portugal RPW was first detected in August 2007 in the Algarve Region and then in other areas of the country. Considering the uncontrolled spread of the pest and its high nocivity, a pest detection program was initiated in 2010 in the municipality of Cascais using traps baited with an aggregation pheromone based on ferruginol. RPW adults were firstly recorded in traps in May 2011 and insects caught in those traps between July and November were studied, with a view to analyze the mycobiota associated with them. In all the analyzed insects a variable number of molds were detected and during the study 59 species were identified associated with the rostrum/antennae, elytra, legs and internal organs. Most species are known as phytopathogens or saprophytes, being noted the presence of Nalanthamala vermoesenii and Thielaviopsis paradoxa, important agents of palm diseases in Portugal, and species of the genera Metarhizium and Paecilomyces.