Can high pest pressure of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus beat the defense of Phoenix theophrasti?

Abstract

Summary The Cretan date palm, Phoenix theophrasti, is a less susceptible and suitable host for the red palm weevil compared to the Canary palm, P. canariensis, even at high pest pressure. Nevertheless, P. theophrasti is not invulnerable to the red palm weevil, hence under continuous and high pest pressure young offshoots/palms can be deadly infested. The slow development of the insect in the Cretan date palm should probably allow a larger ‘window of time’ for an effective plant protection management against the pest.