Search results for "Red palm weevil"

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus: Behavior, Ecology, and Communication

2017

Red palm weevil (RPW) ecology is characterized by the adults' ability to aggregate on palms. The aggregation process has the functions of protection, feeding, and reproduction for the individuals. Semiochemicals and visual cues strongly influence this behavior at intraspecific and interspecific levels. Adults actively fly over long distances, following chemical cues, such as aggregation pheromone and host plant odor, or visual cues to colonize a new host. The aggregation pheromone of RPW is a male-produced mixture of 4-methyl-5-nonanol (major component) and the related ketone 4-methyl-5-nonanone (minor component). These compounds are largely used in the field to lure males and especially fe…

Action Programs for Rhynchophorus ferrugineus and Paysandisia archon

2017

The spread of invasive alien species is strongly associated with the rapid acceleration of human trade, tourism, transport, and travel over the past century, which have allowed these species to overcome natural geographic barriers. The best strategy to prevent the spread of invasive species is quarantine and eradication of initial foci. However, when invasive species appear to be established, the best approach should focus on containment and decreasing their impact through specific control measures. In this context, considering the rapid spread of the two palm pest species recently introduced in the Mediterranean area-Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (red palm weevil, RPW) and Paysandisia archon (…

Urban landscape evolution as a consequence of an invasive pest: The case of a small sicilian town

2017

The Red Palm Weevil (RPW), after its accidental introduction in Italy in 2005, determined a progressive disruption of Canary palms mostly in the central and southern regions. As it is difficult to undertake the management of this pest, the possibility of substituting the killed/symptomatic palms with other ornamental trees has been recently discussed. In this context, understanding the citizens' needs about green areas can improve the management of public parks and urban greening. Involving citizens on the natural resource management using public participation processes is crucial. The case study of a small town of Sicily (Italy) was treated and the spread of this pest was monitored. Moreov…

Chromosome studies in North-Western Sicily males of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

2016

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), known as red palm weevil (RPW) was accidentally introduced and established in Sicily (Italy) since 2005. As like in other Mediterranean sites, RPW has been causing extensive damage to palm trees and on its new host Phoenix canariensis Chabaud (Canary Island palms), acquired concomitantly with the colonization of the area. RPW shows a good ecological plasticity and slightly but significant morphological polymorphism (colour patterns and length of the rostrum in male individuals) that can be appreciated within different geographical populations. The aim of the present work was to investigate if this ecological plasticity and phenotypic variability can be a…

Preliminary results on the interaction between Bacillus thuringensis and Red Palm Weevil.

2008

Genomic DNA analysis of Red Palm Weevil: Rhynchophorus ferrugineus cytochrome oxidase subunit I-like (COI) gene, partial sequence; mitochondrial gi|2…

2008

E' deposita in Banca dati (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/EU780007.1) la parziale sequenza del gene della citocromo ossidasi I di Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (noto come punteruolo rosso) rinvenuto in Phoenix canariensis a Palermo (Italia).

Transcriptome analysis of Phoenix canariensis Chabaud in response to Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier attacks

2015

Red Palm Weevil (RPW, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier) threatens most palm species worldwide. Until now, no studies have analyzed the gene regulatory networks of Phoenix canariensis (Chabaud) in response to RPW attacks. The aim of this study was to fill this knowledge gap. Providing this basic knowledge is very important to improve its management.Results: A deep transcriptome analysis was performed on fully expanded leaves of healthy non-infested trees and attacked trees at two symptom stages (middle and late infestation). A total of 54 genes were significantly regulated during middle stage. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that phenylpropanoid-related pathways were induced at this stag…

Hemocytes of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier)(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and their response to Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus thuringiensis

2011

Originally from tropical Asia, the Red Palm Weevil (RPW Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) is the most dangerous and deadly pest of many palm trees, and there have been reports of its recent detection in France, Greece and Italy. At present, emphasis is on the development of integrated pest management based on biological control rather than on chemical insecticides, however the success of both systems is often insufficient. In this regard, RPW appears to be one pest that is very difficult to control. Thus inves- tigations into the natural defences of this curculionid are advisable. RPW hemocytes, the main immuno- competent cells in the insect, are described for the first time. We identifie…

Analisi molecolare per lo studio della variabilità genetica nel Punteruolo rosso

2009

Al fine di caratterizzare e confrontare le popolazioni di Rhynchophorus ferrugineus presenti in Sicilia, con quelle presenti negli areali autoctoni e di recente introduzione, sono stati messi a punto dei protocolli per l’analisi di specifiche sequenze del DNA genomico di questo fitofago. Sono stati disegnati i primer da utilizzare per l’amplificazione della regione ITS del punteruolo rosso. In particolare, per l’amplificazione della porzione ITS1 un primer forward è posizionato nella porzione terminale del gene 18S (P1) e l’altro nella porzione iniziale del gene 5,8S (P2), con opposta direzione di sintesi.Per l’amplificazione dell’ITS2, invece, i primer forward e reverse sono posizionati, r…

Bacillus thuringiensis treatment modulate the HSP70 expression in larva and adult brain of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

2013

To study the pathogen-host relationship, we used the model of the entomopathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, a quarantine pest that attacks palm trees. In particular, we focused on the Bt stress-induced infections. We studied the effect of Bt on larval and adult growth, and on the expression of the heat shock proteins (HSPs), rapidly synthesized in the cell after exposure to stress including pathogens. Bt has negative effects on larval and adult growth, on total hemocytes counts and on the hemocyte type. HSP70 was evaluated in the supernatant of the brain lysate obtained from larvae and adults fed with sublethal doses of Bt. HSP70 expression was mo…