It is very difficult to detect R. ferrugineus in the early stages of infestation. Generally, it is detected only after the palm has been severely damaged.
Some holes in the crown or trunk from which chewed-up fibres with fermented odor are ejected. This may be accompanied by the oozing of brown viscous liquid .
Crunching noise produced by the feeding grubs can be heard when the ear is placed to the trunk of the palm
A withered bud/crown.
Fallen empty pupal cases and dead adults around a heavily infested palm
Breaking of the trunk or toppling of the crown in case of severe and prolonged infestation.
Management
Remove and burn all wilting or damaged palms to prevent further perpetuation of the pest
Avoid injuries on stems of palms as the wounds may serve as oviposition sites for the weevil
Fill all holes in the stem with cement
Install pheromone trap @ 2 / ha
Fill the crown and the axils of top most three leaves with a mixture of fine sand and neem seed powder or neem seed kernel powder (2:1) once in three months to prevent the attack of rhinoceros beetle damage in which the red palm weevil lays eggs.
