French National Action Plan against the Red Palm Weevil [Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier)]

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1 Red Palm weevil control strategy for Europe International Conference. Valencia, Spain 4-6 may 2010 French National Action Plan against the Red Palm Weevil [Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier)] Evaluation of the Different Control Strategies Basis Direction Générale de l Alimentation LABORATOIRE NATIONAL DE LA PROTECTION DES VÉGÉTAUX Sous-Direction de la Qualité et de la Protection des Végétaux

2 National Action plan Official identification of RPW by French NPPO (infested palm tree or trapping of an adult in a pheromone trap) will cause the implementation of the emergency measures The infested palm tree or the trap with an adult constitutes the outbreak

3 The aim is the eradication of the RPW and success is based on the purpose of an integrated strategy of different measures, on preventive treatments and an early detection of first symptoms For the very infested areas the term containment will be more acceptable

4 Demarcated areas: Three areas are delimited around the outbreak -Infested zone: in a 100 m radius around the infested palm tree or the trap with an adult -Safety zone: in a 100 m radius around the infested zone -Buffer zone: around the safety zone in a minimal 10 km radius around the outbreak These zones could be redefined according to new occurrences of the pest

5 The demarcated areas will be declared free of the pest, if during three consecutive years, the monitoring does not highlight the presence of the RPW

6 Provisions related to monitoring measures In both infested and safety zones owners have an obligation of monitoring their palm trees. Monitoring could be made by an allowed or an official organism. On the basis of, at least, a monthly frequency. It consists in scheduled observations at the base of the juvenile palms, for example, by the creation of window of observation.

7 The aim is the detection of early signs of the presence of the pest Pointing out anomalies in the layout and the appearance of the palms

In the whole of the delimited zones, organization of a monitoring, set up by the NPPO in collaboration with local authorities, via a network of pheromone traps, and a

8 In the whole of the delimited zones, organization of a monitoring, set up by the NPPO in collaboration with local authorities, via a network of pheromone traps, and a visual control of the palm trees. The grid of the traps depends on the density of palm trees in the concerned zones. 1 trap/ha in landscape in monitoring, but 1/4ha in urban areas

9 Provisions related to control measures

10 In the infested zone The owner of an infested palm tree has to eradicate the harmful organism through the intervention of trained private service provider or municipality services With two options -Elimination of the palm tree -Mechanical sanitation of infested palms in order to remove all infested tissues of the stipe with application of both insecticide and fungi treatments All owners have to apply a preventive treatment of their palm trees in the vicinity of infested palm trees

11 In the entire demarcated areas All establishments implicated in palm trees trade (nurseries, ) are held to place the suceptible plants under complete physical protection or to assure them suitable preventive treatments Susceptible plants originating in a place of production or in place of palm trees trade may be moved only if no signs of the RPW has been observed during the two years prior to the movement

12 All these actions are subjected to obligations of information and control by the proper authorities, (NPPO, Préfecture). Any private company or municipality services participating within the framework of this regulation must follow specific trainings entitled by the NPPO.

13 Preventive treatments of the palm trees in plantation The treatments are carried out by spraying of the aerial parts Chemical treatments are carried out by using phytopharmacological products based on imidacloprid Biological treatments are carried out using a preparation of entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema carpocapsae, with an amount of 180 million juvenile forms hl/ water at least. Do not use during warm and dry period Two strategies of treatment can be implemented

14 The objective of the strategy is to make a huge pressure on the insect over two years in order to stop the biological cycle of the pest The treatments schedule has to be adapted to the biological cycle of the pest in order to target the most appropriate stage Three different strategies are under discussion: -Chemical strategy: chemical treatments based on imidacloprid with applications separated by 21 days to 1 month -Chemical and biological alternation: on the same schedule -Biological strategy: 21 days between each application

15 Difficulties Cost of treatments Problematic of chemical treatments in public area Difficulty of application of nematodes

16 Preventive treatments of the pot palm trees in the places of production, storage or trade The treatments are carried out on soil level (roots absorption) by using phytopharmacological products based on imidacloprid

17 Treatment of the palm trees after a mechanical sanitation of the infested parts of the plant The wounded parts of the plant are spraying, immediately after the mechanical sanitation of the infested part, by insecticidal products based on imidacloprid Application to be renewed twice with an interval of 21 days to one month A fungicide must also be applied immediately after the mechanical sanitation, renewed twice (mancozeb/myclobutanil)

18 Evaluation on the different techniques used in the purposed strategies Different treatment measures for an alternative to the destruction of the palm tree were analyzed (based on bibliography and practice in other countries) in order to assess their efficiency (in the objective of eradication) and the risk presented by the potential use of these treatments (non intentional effects)

19 Each measure has been analyzed separately: Monitoring with pheromone traps Mechanical sanitation Curative treatment with imidacloprid Biological treatment with Steinernema carpocapsae Trunk injection

Monitoring with pheromone traps Problem to evaluate the density of the traps to be set up and the concomitant human investment Problem to ensure

20 Monitoring with pheromone traps Problem to evaluate the density of the traps to be set up and the concomitant human investment Problem to ensure quality the components which have a synergic action. If not, effect of attraction without trapping (need for placing the traps at more 25m of a palm tree )

21 Mechanical sanitation: Effectiveness against RPW: No hindsight in France and very little abroad A well made mechanical sanitation have be effective to destroy the weevil The risk of non eradication is higher than with the cut and the destruction of the infested palm tree.

22 Non intentional effects on the palm tree: - lack of hindsight - significant risk for the palm tree, it is likely that we will attend a significant mortality of the treated trees (approximately 50% for the experimentation presented in Valencia). Other non intentional effects: - a priori with none. Feasibility: - technique which appears applicable. Uncertainty: High concerning the mortality of the treated palm trees and the effectiveness.

23 Treatment with imidacloprid: Effectiveness against RPW: - no hindsight in France and more abroad - the imidacloprid seems to be one of the most effective products to control Rhynchophorus ferrugineus - however as many products used in plant health, its effectiveness is not 100%. - the risk of non eradication is higher than with the cut and the destruction of the infested palm tree

24 Non intentional effects on the palm tree: - we did not find studies on this point, as phytotoxicity on other plants. Other non intentional effects: - side effects on auxiliary fauna and the bees - cases of resistance - polemic concerning this product - the treatment being localized on the palm trees, the risk is decreased but the opposition of the residents in urban environment can be significant. Feasibility: applicable technique. Uncertainty: significant concerning the effectiveness and the side effects, no hindsight on palm trees.

25 Treatment with Steinernema carpocapsae Effectiveness against RPW: -the nematodes as Steinernema seem good entomopathogenic organisms -few hindsight on their effectiveness on the field within the framework of the eradication of R. ferrugineus on palm trees. As in the case of the imidacloprid the effectiveness will not be 100% -the risk of non eradication is higher than with the cut and the destruction of the infested palm tree

26 Non intentional effects on the palm tree: -we did not find any article on the subject, however we can suppose that they will be not very significant. Other non intentional effects: -these nematods are not specific, other nontarget organisms could be reached. However the treatment being localized the palm trees, this risk is decreased. -We did not find data on the risk of resistance. Feasibility: technique which appears applicable. Uncertainty: high on the effectiveness on the field and medium on the non intentional effects.

27 About trunk injection for Palm Tree Well documented for the oil palm trees and the coconuts but much assertion and few studies for Phoenix canariensis Not obviously of a better effectiveness compared to spraying Contradictory data, from one article to another and sometimes in the same article (e.g. Mariau and Philippe, 1983) Waiting the results of the experiments currently carried out example in Israel

28 Conclusion: Each measure examined separately presents some uncertainty about effectiveness in the objective of eradication But an integrated use of these measures should be an efficient alternative of destruction measures Lack of experimentation and studies

29 There is a need of experimentation for validation of these strategies The national action plan will be applied and an evaluation should be made from here to two or three years

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in Europe survey results Nándor Pete

Food and Veterinary Office Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in Europe survey results Nándor Pete Topics General situation in the EU Specific situation of the Member States Interceptions Conclusions R. ferrugineus