Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of active and passive radio tags on the flying and burrowing behavior of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae)

  • Technical Note
  • Published:
Applied Entomology and Zoology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The invasive red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) has become the main pest of palms. Because of the cryptic habits of the adult, little is known about the precise movements on palms and the actual dispersal capability in a population. Such data would help to improve risk assessment and management. Miniature radio tags have been increasingly used to monitor movements of animals. In this study, we evaluated the resistance of passive radio frequency identification (RFID) and active radio-transmitters (comprising an antenna) to the burrowing behavior of the insect and their effects on the flight activity. Tagged weevils were placed in boxes filled with fibrous plant material. After 1 week, ca. 90% of insects kept the tag but 83% of the radio-transmitters had a broken antenna. In a screen cage, 100% of insects equipped with RFID flew normally, in contrast to the 17% of insects equipped with active tags. RFID-tagged insects inserted in palm tissue could be easily identified. RFID glued to the thorax affected neither mating behavior nor oviposition. In conclusion, RFID tags appear to be the most efficient tool for tracking the displacement of the weevil in young palms and present new opportunities for promoting studies about gregarious behavior of the red palm weevil on young infected palms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  • Abbas M, Hanounik S, Shahdad A, Ai-Bagham S (2006) Aggregation pheromone traps, a major component of IPM strategy for the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in date palms (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). J Pest Sci 79:69–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aldryhim Y, Khalil A (2003) Effect of humidity and soil type on survival and behavior of red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliv.) adults. Agric Mar Sci 8:87–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Ávalos J, Martí-Campoy A, Soto A (2014) Study of the flying ability of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) adults using a computer-monitored flight mill. Bull Entomol Res 104:462–470

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ávalos J, Balasch S, Soto A (2016) Flight behaviour and dispersal of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) adults using mark-release-recapture method. Bull Entomol Res 106:606–614

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beaudoin-Ollivier L, Bonaccorso F, Aloysius M, Kasiki M (2003) Flight movement of Scapanes australis (Boisduval) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) in Papua New Guinea: a radiotelemetry study. Aust J Entomol 42:367–372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daniel Kissling W, Pattemore DE, Hagen M (2014) Challenges and prospects in the telemetry of insects. Biol Rev 89:511–530

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Faleiro J (2006) A review of the issues and management of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Rhynchophoridae) in coconut and date palm during the last one hundred years. Int J Trop Insect Sci 26:135–154

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faleiro J, Kumar J, Rangnekar P (2002) Spatial distribution of red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in coconut plantations. Crop Prot 21:171–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiaboe K, Peterson A, Kairo M, Roda A (2012) Predicting the potential worldwide distribution of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier)(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) using ecological niche modeling. Fla Entomol 95:659–673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giblin-Davis R (2001) Borers of palms. In: Howard F, Moore D, Giblin-Davis R, Abad R (eds) Insects on palms. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, pp 267–304

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Giblin-Davis RM, Faleiro JR, Jacas JA, Peña JE, Vidyasagar P (2013) Biology and management of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. In: Peña J (ed) Potential invasive pests of agricultural crops. Cabi, Florida, pp 1–34

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hagler JR, Jackson CG (2001) Methods for marking insects: current techniques and future prospects. Annu Rev Entomol 46:511–543

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hallett R, Gries G, Gries R, Borden J, Czyzewska E, Oehlschlager A, Pierce H, Angerilli N, Rauf A (1993) Aggregation pheromones of two Asian palm weevils, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus and R. vulneratus. Naturwissenschaften 80:328–331

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamidi R, Schmidt-Buesser D, Couzi P, Lherminier B, Khfif K, Renou M, Avand-Faghih A, Rochat D (2013) Charançon rouge du palmier, déjouer les pièges du piégeage. Phytoma-La Défense des végétaux 667:26–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedin J, Ranius T (2002) Using radio telemetry to study dispersal of the beetle Osmoderma eremita, an inhabitant of tree hollows. Comput Electron Agric 35:171–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaakeh W (1998) The mating behaviour of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliver (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). EJFA 10:24–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martín M, Cabello T (2005) Biología, ecología y control del curculiónido rojo de la palmera, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Col.: Dryophtoridae). Universidad de Almería, Almería

    Google Scholar 

  • OEPP (2013) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus found for the first time in Bretagne region, France

  • OJEU (2007) Commission Decision 2007/365/EC on emergency measures against the introduction and spread within the EU of R. ferrugineus (Olivier) [notified under document number C (2007) 2161]. Off J Eur Union http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32007D0365:EN:NOT

  • Pahl M, Zhu H, Tautz J, Zhang S (2011) Large scale homing in honeybees. PLoS ONE 6:e19669

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ranius T (2006) Measuring the dispersal of saproxylic insects: a key characteristic for their conservation. Popul Ecol 48:177–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rink M, Sinsch U (2007) Radio-telemetric monitoring of dispersing stag beetles: implications for conservation. J Zool 272:235–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rugman-Jones PF, Hoddle CD, Hoddle MS, Stouthamer R (2013) The lesser of two weevils: molecular-genetics of pest palm weevil populations confirm Rhynchophorus vulneratus (Panzer 1798) as a valid species distinct from R. ferrugineus (Olivier 1790), and reveal the global extent of both. PLoS ONE 8:e78379

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Salem MS, Belal MH, Nour ME, Sayed EA (2012) Detection of a chemical marker from ovipositing females in Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculiondae). Adv Environ Bio 6:2280–2284

    Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez PA, Jafffé K, Hernández JV, Cerda H (1993) Biologia y comportamiento del picudo del cocotero Rhynchophorus palmarum L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Bol Entom Venez 8:83–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Samuel MD, Fuller MR (1994) Wildlife radiotelemetry. In: Bookhout T (ed) Research and management techniques for wildlife habitats. The Wildlife Society, Bethesda, pp 370–418

    Google Scholar 

  • Silcox D, Doskocil J, Sorenson C, Brandenburg R (2011) Radio frequency identification tagging: a novel approach to monitoring surface and subterranean insects. Am Entomol 57:86–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vinatier F, Chailleux A, Duyck P-F, Salmon F, Lescourret F, Tixier P (2010) Radiotelemetry unravels movements of a walking insect species in heterogeneous environments. Anim Behav 80:221–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Program under grant agreement No. FP7 KBBE 2011-5-289566 (PALM PROTECT). We are indebted to Pascal Roskam and Isabelle Touton for taking care of the weevil culture.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. iEES Paris, INRA, UPMC, CNRS, IRD, Université Paris Diderot, UPEC, Route de Saint-Cyr, 78026, Versailles, France

    Rachid Hamidi, Philippe Couzi, Khalid Khfif & Didier Rochat

Authors
  1. Rachid Hamidi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Philippe Couzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Khalid Khfif
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Didier Rochat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rachid Hamidi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hamidi, R., Couzi, P., Khfif, K. et al. Impact of active and passive radio tags on the flying and burrowing behavior of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae). Appl Entomol Zool 52, 165–173 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-016-0464-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-016-0464-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation