Evaluation of the efficacy of insecticidal coatings based on teflutrin and chlorpyrifos against Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

SummaryBACKGROUND The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an important economic resource for many nations worldwide, recently threatened by the presence of different insect pests, like the red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. RESULTS Two products, a glue (polyvinyl acetate) and an oil (raw linseed oil), have been used as coatings and applied together with a repellent and two insecticides (teflutrin and chlorpyrifos) at different dosages on 2 species of palm (Phoenix dactylifera and Phoenix canariensis). Phytotoxic effects of the treatments have been evaluated in greenhouse on 260 potted palms (130 Phoenix dactylifera and 130 P. canariensis) and no negative effects have been observed. Afterwards, a trial lasting 400 days has been carried out in a nursery located in Sicily (South Italy), treating 572 potted palm trees (286 P.dactylifera and 286 P. canariensis) with an average diameter at base of 18–20 cm. After 400 days, 48% of the untreated palms were infested, while only 3% of date palms and 7% of Canary palms treated with insecticide at lower dosages have been infested. CONCLUSIONS The application of an insecticide based coating is a good strategy to control and prevent the red palm weevil infestation, in particular on date palms.