THE RELATIVE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF CERTAIN DATE PALM LEAF VARIETIES TO ENNEADESMUS TRISPINOSUS (COLEOPTERA: BOSTRICHIDAE) INFESTATION

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

The powder post beetle, Enneadesmus trispinosus Olivier (Coleoptera : Bostrichidae) is an economic pest on date palm leaves in Egypt. During 1992, midribs of seven date palm varieties were tested for their relative susceptibility to the pest's infestation. Midribs of the varieties showed the following descending rate of infestation : " Males" „ "Manthour" , "Zaghloul", "Samani", "Haiani", "Tamr" and "Seeidi (or Seewi) " (26.3 , 21.7 , 20.1, 15.3, 13.5, 2.6 and 0.5% in facultative trials and 23.2, 21.3, 20.5, 16.8, 11.8, 11.5, 4.9 and 1.8% in obligated trials). Although Seeidi (Seewi.) variety showed slight liability to the pest's infestation, in obligated trials, infestation somewhat increases. Seeidi variety could be of some importance in manufacturing date palm midrib.