FIRST RECORD OF THE RED PALM WEEVIL [RHYNCHOPHORUS FERRUGINEUS OLIV. (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)] IN LIBYA

The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an economically important, tissue-boring pest of date palm in many parts of the world. In Libya, adults of R. ferrugineus were collected occasionally from Tobruk city during January 2009. In May 2009, 40 pheromone-keromone traps were introduced by the Pest Control Center, Libyan Agriculture Ministry; 19 traps were placed at 19 smallholder farms inside Tobruk city; 14 traps were placed at 14 smallholder farms outside the city (more than 15 km from the city center). Seven traps were placed at 7 commercial farms at El-Gaghboob oasis (300 km south Tobruk) to detect and monitor the red palm weevil. Data revealed that the occurrence of adults was in the center of Tobruk. The mean recorded numbers ranged between 0.33-7.91 adults/trap/week. The total numbers of collected adults was 565 during the investigation period. Traps placed at Tobruk borders and El-Gaghboob oasis did not record any attracted adults. Detection and monitoring of red palm weevil should be undertaken in other places in Libya because it invaded many close countries.