THE EFFECTS OF BOTANICAL OILS ON THE RED PALM WEEVIL, RHYNCHOPHORUS FERRUGINEUS OLIVIER (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

palm trees are liable to be attacked by many insect pests which cause serious damage to the different parts of tree.The most serious insect pest is the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver) (RPWs).To evaluate the impact of four botanical oils of Melissa officinalis, Borago officinalis, Laurus nobilis and Carapichea ipecacuanha on R. ferrugineus.4 botanical oils were tested against newly emerged adults of R. ferrugineus for the purpose of investigating their insecticidal activity and effects on some biological aspects.Males of R. ferrugineus were more susceptible to the four botanical oils than females, followed by the immature larvae.The larvae showed different degrees of susceptibility to the four botanical oils.They showed the highest susceptibility to C. ipecacuanha and the lowest to B. officinalis oil at LC50 levels.Adult males and females were more susceptible to C. ipecacuanha and the least to L. nobilis oil at LC50 levels.The four tested oils disrupted some biological aspects of the insects.These oils remarkably reduced male and female longevity, female fecundity and hatchability of the laid eggs.