D3412: Potential distribution of South American palm weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) a new invasive pest of cultivated palms in the United States

The Curculionidae is a family of snout beetles or true weevils. The weevils have 6,800 genera and around 83,000 species described worldwide. While not all weevils are invasive, numerous species have been major agricultural pests in the United States. Currently, the South American palm weevil (SAPW), Rhynchophorus palmarum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a non-native pest that has become invasive within the state of California. This pest is native to South America and have known distribution in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Countries. Detection of SAPW was confirmed by the USDA on May 9, 2011, in California. The SAPW has a great potential to invade and establish in the cultivated palm plantations, especially in California and Florida in the United States. Coconut palms and Canary Islands date palms are especially vulnerable to this serious pest. Adults of the SAPW are the vector of juvenile stages of red ring nematode, Bursaphelenchus cocophilus, which causes a deadly red ring disease in the palms. Although the SAPW has not been reported in in Florida, trade across North and South America, the Caribbean, and the west coast of the United States, could pose increased risks of this pest’s introduction. This study highlights the current distribution of the SAPW in native ranges and its potential geographical invasions into the North America, north of Mexico and the Caribbean countries. Also, a list of cultivated palms vulnerable against this the SAPW is provided to alert the palm industry, trade partners, and stakeholders.