Important distinction of the Laboratory of Agricultural Zoology & Entomology of the Agricultural University of Athens
Τhe paper “Current status of biology – biotechnic, agronomic and biological control of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus: a review”, 2024, by Waqas Wakil, Maria C. Boukouvala, Nickolas G. Kavallieratos, Constantin S. Filintas, Nikoleta Eleftheriadou, Muhammad Usman Ghazanfar, Muhammad Yasin, Mirza Abdul Qayyum, Pasco B. Avery, (https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/12/955), has been selected as a cover page of Issue 12 of the Volume 15, No. 955 (https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/12) of the international journal Insects (Impact Factor = 2.7, Q1 in Entomology) (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/insects). It should be noted that the Editors of Insects selected the aforementioned paper among the 112 papers that have been published in the Issue of December 2024.
Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the red palm weevil (RPW), is a concealed voracious pest of different ornamental and economically important palm species, particularly the date palm. It can cause huge losses in ornamental and commercial palm plantations. RPW has spread rapidly from its original distribution in Southeast Asia to date palm-growing countries worldwide. It is now established in more than 50% of date palm-growing countries and 15% of the coconut-growing countries globally. To prevent further expansion of this pest, many countries have implemented strict legislative and quarantine measures surrounding the export of the palms plant genetic resources from RPW-infested countries. This review focuses on the general biology (life history, development), host range, geographical distribution, and management on the basis of biotechnic methods, farming practices, natural enemies, and important microbial control agents.
Writing, review, and editing was conducted by scientists belonging in seven Institutions of Europe, Asia, and America: University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Senckenberg German Entomological Institute, Agricultural University of Athens, University of Sargodha, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, University of Agriculture Multan, University of Florida.
