EFFECT OF SOME AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS ON THE LEVEL OF INFESTATION WITH RED PALM WEEVIL Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (OLIVIER) IN DATE PALM FARMS IN EGYPT

The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus(Olivier.) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) (Oliv.) is the most serious and destructive insect pest for date palm trees. The study carried out in date plantations of Nobaria , Beheira Governorate. Results indicated that the total percentages of palms infestation were 25 % and 16.8 % during season 2012 and 2013,respectvely.The palm trees which contain air roots were highly infestation compared palms without air roots arrived 44.8% and 47.6 % infestation during two years, respectively . High percentage of infestation recorded at 0.0 – 1.0 m above ground surface low infestation occurred in top tree ranged 7.1-8 % infestation. High number of infested palms found in the farm more irrigation. The available humidity under trees of ten vary according to irrigation methods .High number of palm infested found in trees that contain air offshoots compared (with removed offshoots with treatment fogging using sulfur powder after removing), these recorded 11.6% and 33.3% with removal and no removal offshoots. No significant differences between yield product in each healthy palm and infested date palm during two seasons.