Red Palm Weevil

Red Palm Weevil

Update: Red Palm Weevil Successfully Eradicated from California
Effective January 18, 2015, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has declared eradication of Red Palm Weevil from Laguna Beach California.  For more information, please visit UC Riverside's Center for Invasive Species Research page on Red Palm Weevil.

Red_Palm_Weevil_larva-cocoon_Photo_by M.Lewis

Red Palm Weevil. Photo by J. Kabashima

Red Palm Weevil (RPW) is widely considered to be the most damaging insect pest of palms in the world. RPW’s are usually attracted to unhealthy palm trees, but they will often attack healthy palms too. Red Palm Weevil larvae feed within the apical growing point of the palms creating extensive damage to palm tissues and weakening the structure of the palm trunk.