Review: List of arthropod pests and their natural enemies identified worldwide on date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L.

Abstract

The date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecales: Arecaceae) is subject to damage by numerous arthropod pests. This review lists 112 species of mite and insect pests associated with date palm distributed among 10 orders and 42 different families. Of these species, few are identified as major or potential pests of date palm tree. The listed species are classified according to their preferred part on the tree into: 34 species on the foliages, 30 species on palm bases, stem and roots, 26 species on inflorescences, bunch stalks, green and ripening fruits, and 22 species attacking date during harvest and storage. In addition to harmful insect and mite pests, more than 45 predators and parasitoids in 7 orders and 15 families are identified. Ten species are considered as major pests viz., the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorous ferrugineus), Old world date mite (Oligonychus afrasiaticus), lesser date moth (Batrachedra amydraula), Dubas date bug (Ommatissus binotatus), green pit scale (Palmapsis phoenicis), carob moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae), longhorn date palm stem borer (Jebusaea hammerschmidti), rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes agamemnon), fruit stalk borer (Oryctes elegans) and almond moth (Cadra cautella).