Review Article The Rhinoceros Beetle Oryctes agamemnon arabicus in : Current Challenge and Future Management Perspectives

Rasmi Soltani, Institut Supérieur Agronomique de -Mariem, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia ______

ABSTRACT Soltani R. 2010. The rhinoceros beetle Oryctes agamemnon arabicus in Tunisia: Current challenge and future management perspectives. Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 5: 179-193.

Oryctes agamemnon arabicus was signaled in the oases of Southwest Tunisia in 1995, its only host- plant is date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera ). Favorable development sites are the standing alive palm tree with its different parts. Female laid about 27 eggs. Adults fly at night and during day they shelter in their development sites. They feed occasionally on the juice extracted from respiratory roots. Their roles are limited to reproduction and dispersion of the species on short distances. Larvae stand as the harmful stages of the species and none the adults. Larvae damages affect different levels of the tree: respiratory roots, superficial part of stem (fibrilium, stem bark and midrib) and the lower part of the crown, which are the breeding sites of the immature stages. The most severe damage is related to respiratory roots, basal support of the palm tree, and secondary to crown periphery. Management of the species is above all preventive targeting mainly the breeding sites to reduce population. Quarantine measures by the restriction of offshoots movement impede the spread of the pest to new zones, cultural techniques target the control and the destruction of development sites and traps of different type attract adults. All these methods reduce enormously the population inside plantations.

Keywords : Damages, date palm, distribution, life cycle, management, Oryctes agamemnon arabicus , Tunisia. ______

INTRODUCTION Date palms, Phoenix dactylifera , are agamemnon and O. rhinoceros (1); all of considered as one of the most them known as rhinoceros beetle. In economically important fruit trees in Arab Arabian Peninsula, O. agamemnon is world. These trees and their fruits are widespread in Gulf countries as Kingdom subject to depredation by several serious of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, insect pests (17). Among these insects, Sultanate of Oman (1), and recently in the genus Oryctes (Coleoptera: Tunisia (6) where its mainly registered Sacarabaeidae) was represented by host is date palm tree. several species in date palm orchards of Historically, O. agmemnon arabicus many Arabian countries as O. elegans , O. was accidentally introduced in Tunisia for the first time at the end of 70’s decade from the oasis of United Arab Emirates Corresponding author: Rasmi Soltani (13) into the oases of Mrah Lahouar Email: [email protected] belonging to the governorate of (6), and this as part of varietal exchange Accepted for publication 19 October 2010 Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 179 Vol. 5, No. 2, 2010 between both countries. Closely linked to studies conducted during the last fifteen palm tree, it stands as the only registered years, to fight O. agamemnon arabicus in species of the genus Oryctes in some date palm plantations of Southwest plantations of Southwest Tunisia (14). Tunisia. However, from its introduction to the first report of its severe damage, INSECT DESCRIPTION expressed by the sudden collapse of many Adult of O. agamemnon arabicus are productive palm trees in 1995, O. stocky, stout, black or reddish black in agamemnon arabicus populations have color with shining aspect. They measure considerably grown up and this species 30-57 mm in length and 14-21 mm in has become a major pest of date palm tree breadth. The male is characterized by a in this region. Few research studies are curved cephalic horn and a large focused in this species which threat depression on the pronotum (Fig. 1), both increases each year in infested oases: characters are rudimentary and sometimes despite this danger; no serious control absent on female. The pygidium is programs were set up against this beetle clothed by reddish brown hairs which are (14). more densely in female than male (13). The aim of this paper is to develop a management strategy based on field

Fig. 1. Holometabolous life cycle of Oryctes agamemnon arabicus and an example of damage on the respiratory root parts of date palm tree (13).

After eggs hatching, life cycle field, can exceed 90 mm (13). completed through three distinguish Current distribution larval stages and a pupal period. At full Delimiting surveys performed in development, length of larva of third 2006 indicated that the infestation was stage, which is the most destructive in the restricted to some oases of extreme Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 180 Vol. 5, No. 2, 2010

Southwest, from Tozeur and collected data, the historical spread of O. governorates (Fig. 2), and permitted also agamemnon arabicus was characterized to mark out the historical spread of the by two distinguished periods (14). species in this zone. Based on the

Fig. 2. Geographical localization of the date palm oases in Southwest Tunisia ( and Nefzaoua) (satellite photo, Google Earth).

Before 1987, the spread of this observed stage out of the palm tree, species was limited to Mrah Lahouar assure the local and progressive spread of oases (387 ha) situated 5 Km in the West the pest between adjacent or bordered of Tozeur town just on the North edge of oases. Infestation reached the oasis of Chott El Djerid (F1 in Fig. 3). However, Dhraa El Janoubi located at 100 m in the initially introduced in little numbers (15 West of Mrah Lahouar and which cover larvae of third stage maximum), adult 200 ha. So, preliminary and based on this beetles of first generations secured by information, it is important to mention their reproductive activity, the growth of that flight activity can be considered as the population and then its continuity and the most likely method of spread on short perpetuation in this new environment. In distance both within and between addition, adults, the only mobile and adjacent date palm plantations (14).

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Fig. 3. Distribution of O. agamemnon arabicus in the oases of Djerid zone (Tozeur): F 1: Mrah Lahouar and Dhraa El Janoubi, F 2: Ibn Chabbat, F 3: Dhafria, F 4: El Oudia I et II (satellite photo, Google Earth).

After 1987, the lack of necessary lack of offshoots in Kebili oases imposed primary plant material to achieve the the use of offshoots originated from Ibn plantation of Ibn Chabbat oases (F 2 in Chabbat oases (800 ha), both to continue Fig. 3), located 5 Km in the North of the plantation process and to replace the Mrah Lahouar and in South of Chott El lacks which favored more pest spread. Gharsa, leaded to use offshoots originated During the 90’s decade and from Ibn from infested oases of Mrah Lahouar. Chabbat oases, the major site of the This action permitted the spread of O. spread, O. agamemnon arabicus reached agamemnon arabicus between distant the oases of El Oudia (40 ha) and El oases both in intra- and inter- regional Dhafria (250 ha) both situated in the level. In early 90’s, the same case North of (F 3 and F 4 in occurred in the five localities of Rjim Fig. 3). Thus, the most likely mode of Maatoug zone (1434.5 ha) located in the spread between regions and distant extreme Southwest of plantations is with offshoots removed and approximately 8 Km on the South from infested plantations (14). edges of Chott El Djerid (F in Fig. 4), the

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Fig. 4. Distribution of O. agamemnon arabicus in the oases of Nefzaoua (Kebili): Rjim Maatoug zone (F) constitute the only infested zone (satellite photo, Google Earth).

Many biotic and abiotic factors have arabicus may be considered as one of the contributed to the spread of O. major factors involved in its population agamemnon arabicus . In fact, during the explosion (14). 15 years elapsed between its introduction All these conditions were enforced by the and its first report, favorable conditions ignorance of the species usually confused expressed by adequate regional climate, with other white grubs and this abundance of food resources, absence of contributed mainly to its establishment natural organisms (predators, parasitoids and spread. As a result, it became a real and micro-organisms) that regulate the threat to date palm trees. Actually, population and time (years) allowing pest surveys estimated that the beetles affected acclimatization to local conditions. about 3113.5 ha (Table 1) i.e., almost Therefore, the pest reproduces rapidly 10%, of the total area of palm trees in and outbreaks of its populations occurred. Tunisia (14). The biotic potential of O. agamemnon

Table 1. Distribution of O. agamemnon arabicus in the oases of Southwest Tunisia Governorate of Tozeur Governorate of Kebili (Rjim Maatoug zone) Locality Area (ha) Locality Area (ha) Mrah Lahouar 389 Rjim Maatoug 1 300 Edhraa El Janoubi 200 Ferdaous 1 360 Ibn Chabbat 800 Ferdaous 2 349 Ed Hafria 250 Nasr 1 281.5 El Oudia 40 Nasr 2 144 Total 3113.5 Total 1679 - 1434.5 ha

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DEVELOPMENT SITES Favored breeding sites are standing The availability of development or alive date palm trees in the good breeding sites and the knowledge of their entertained oases, weakened palms are nature and quality are determinant in the less attacked than vigorous ones. In the existence of any insect population in a zone of Tozeur, where the species firstly given area. Indifferently of the infested appeared, targeted parts of standing oasis in Southwest Tunisia, it has been vigorous palm trees are preferred to found that the breeding sites of O. unhealthy and dead standing ones (13). agamemnon arabicus are the same both in the Djerid and Rjim Maatoug zones. All DAMAGES, THREAT AND the stages develop in live standing palm ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE trees. The large number of beetles, eggs In Southwest Tunisia, O. and larvae were collected from respiratory agamemnon arabicus was localized roots both on the ground and in the aerial inside plantations of less than 30 years part, on the external dead wood through old and damage caused by this pest, are the stem as the matrixes of fibrilium, the irreversible, particularly in respiratory bark of stem and basal part of dry petioles roots part, and may result in one of the (13, 14, 15). following symptoms, perceived through In Oman, O. agamemnon arabicus is sight, depending upon the stage of considered as a fruit stalk borer which infestation (14): larvae are usually found inside the dead i) Occurrence of chewed plant and weaken offshoots. In Saudi Arabia, tissues on the ground beside the attacked larvae of O. elegans were found between side and on the upper surface of tough the frond bases and trunks (1). However, layers, the most favored breeding sites for O. ii) Weakened bases of fibrilium rhinoceros in Pacific area are dead matrixes and dry petioles made them easy standing palms which die from old age, to pull up, dead coconut trunks and stumps, and iii) Heavily attacks on offshoots decaying cocoa pod humus (2, 16). linked to mother plant let them partially As with all beetles, larvae of O. dry with wrinkled aspects of palms. agamemnon arabicus hatch from eggs and Damages are localized from the develop into nymphae, and these bottom to the top of the plant on the ultimately develop into adult beetles. Eggs respiratory roots, external components of are deposited directly on the area of future the stem and the basal levels of old green target. However, female burrows to lay the palms. Larvae of O. agamemnon arabicus eggs singly 5 to 10 cm below the surface constitute the mainly harmful stages (14) between fibrous of respiratory roots, and not the adult beetle like for O. through the stem eggs are laid between rhinoceros (2, 3, 12, 16) and O. elegans (1, tough layers. In both cases and in new 11). The concealed nature of the pest targeted place, female chewed and reduce makes detection of infested palms a the fibrous roots or the matrixes of difficult task. fibrilium on small granules used to prepare In respiratory roots, larvae move by chipboard of firm material where eggs are cutting into fibrous roots. Through the laid. However, when firm material exists, stem, matrixes of fibrilium, frond midribs eggs are laid at intervals along the tunnel and stem bark are the interested part of made in it. Each female lays at mean 27 attack and larvae are never seen inside the eggs in single or several clutches (14). stem. Basal part of crown, represented by Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 184 Vol. 5, No. 2, 2010 the fourth oldest floor of green palms, Attacks through different parts of stem was also infested by this pest but, green are not harmful to palm trees because palms are not attacked and concerned larvae bore into dead parts without parts are mainly matrixes of fibrilium and affecting the tree vital function. Eggs are stem barks. Larvae move by feeding on laid between reduced parts of the the attacked tissues where they cut and matrixes of fibrilium located between the dig tunnels. It is important to mention that interior face of midrib and stem bark. indifferently from the level of attacks Their number can not exceed five in each larva dig its own tunnel (14). maximum. After eggs hatching, larvae The most important danger of began their attack as follows: they damage appears on the attack of destruct the tissues of fibrilium matrixes; respiratory roots which represent the after they attack superficially the stem basal support of the palm. In this part and bark and can penetrate inside midrib only in late stage of infestation, after several in third larval instars where they continue subsequent years of attacks, larval their development until pupation. A frond galleries can overlap and interpenetrate. midrib assures the development of only This leads to most severe damages: the one larva of third stage (14, 15). formation of a hole of important Crown attack interests the basal dimensions in roots. Thus, the plant base fourth oldest floor of green palms. New becomes unbalanced by the weakening of emerged adults, pupae and particularly its support, and, consequently, the risk of larvae of third stage are collected from its sudden collapse increases even under this part and never eggs and larvae of first moderate wind. Happily, palms can and second stages. Invaded parts are support pest attacks for several years yet mainly the matrixes of fibrilium and the for more than two decades depending on bark of stem. Green palms petioles are the two next linked parameters: the superficially injured by mouthparts of repetitive attacks and the yearly registered larvae but never interiorly attacked population of larvae. This slow damage because of the hardness of the wood expression constitutes a positive point in which still alive and overloaded water favor of palms which can be exploited to (15, 14). However, existence of larvae on save/cure infested trees using several crown periphery level can be at the origin control methods if infestation was of indirect damage represented by detected at early stage (14). harmful fungal diseases that are always Attacks were also registered related to stem invasion (6, 13, 14). laterally between fibrous roots at 40 cm The pest does not affect the yearly from the stem. However, risks from the harvest of date because attacks were species were increased when offshoots never registered on the base of fruit tufts developed at the base of the tree; this bunches (14). Thus, this species was place constitutes the most preferential site considered as secondary pest resulting in to females’ beetle for eggs deposition (13, its late identification and lacking in 14, 15). related research studies. Stem is covered for several years Offshoots developed in tufts with the bases of the old dry fronds laterally on respiratory roots and all (matrixes of fibrilium and midrib), around the date palm tree (17). These making it rough, but with age these bases unclean places are the best suited sites for weather and the trunk becomes smoother adult beetles for egg deposition. It with visible scars of the bases (17). contributes to enhance the risks related to Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 185 Vol. 5, No. 2, 2010 respiratory root attack by raising the low and few number of control measures number of larvae in this part. Offshoots were tested against this pest (14). are superficially damaged by larvae and still alive as much as linked to mother QUARANTINE MEASURES AND plant. They are always deeply attacked by REGULATORY CONTROL third larval stages. However, after In Southwest Tunisia, the first plantation; attacked offshoots became infestation by the rhinoceros beetle, O. autonomous and the drying process is agamemnon arabicus , was detected in installed. Obvious symptoms began by a 1995 (6). The first step realized by the partial drying located on the side of Plant Protection Services of Regional attacked part that can lead to a delayed or Commissariat of Agriculture stopped development. At the end of this Development (RCAD) consisted in the process, mortality is caused by the partial delimitation of infested zones by the or total consumption of both the internal revision of offshoots movement from the part and the sap conducting vessels. It is initial site (Mrah Lahouar oases) (14). important to mention that each offshoot In Tunisia, almost 90.52% of the ensures the development of only one total area of date palm trees is still free larva (14, 15). from Oryctes infestation. In this case and In Oman, adults of O. agamemnon in absence of any efficient means of arabicus are responsible of damage, they control against this pest, stringent bore into leaves and the surface of the quarantine measures are requested and for fruit stalks which may break under heavy avoiding spread and entry of such pest in attacks. In Saudi Arabia, the adult beetle new plantations and regions. Therefore, of O. elegans destroyed the surface of the the key issue is to stop people carrying rachises, fruit-stalks and frond bases (1). palms of any kinds (offshoots, young and old palm trees) from infested areas as CURRENT MANAGEMENT eggs, larvae, pupae and beetles may be Control of the Scarabaeidae, and localized inside different plant parts (14). especially of the Oryctes genus, is mainly Plant Protection Services of both preventive. It becomes very difficult RCAD of Tozeur and Kebili governorates when breeding places are not cleaned helped by local police worked together to (11). O. agamemnon arabicus and as enforce this quarantine regulation by the previously quoted was an invasive species establishment of checkpoints during the in Tunisia introduced without its natural period of plantation and movement of enemies. Additionally, no chemical offshoots from infested areas. This treatments were applied against it. operation would stop the spread of the Consequently, the species represents now species using plant material with regard a potential danger and a real threat to to inter-governorate movement. palm trees within infested oases. To However, under some exceptions remedy to the lack in effective means of the movement of host material (offshoots) control, it will be necessary to exploit the can be authorized from the quarantined multiple supporting conditions of this pest area, as when it lack, but in this case in order to decrease the existing several steps may be adopted to population and its impact. However, ameliorate the quarantine measures. although the lethal nature of Oryctes and Indeed, in regions where planting the high value of the host crop, assumed material is imported from Oryctes actions to its control within oases are very infested areas, it is advisable to adopt Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 186 Vol. 5, No. 2, 2010 strict pre-departure period (3 months) and the middle of life of the pest by post-entry period (9 months) as a maintaining the growing area in a clean quarantine protocol. In fact, during the condition. It mainly targeted breeding first period selected and pulled offshoots, sites (13). originating from infested areas, must be In the first part, the control targets set in nursery where they undergo a oviposition and breeding sites at different severe control by the continuous survey levels of palm trees. It is important to of the presence of any form of the pest mention that this control method has to be (eggs, larva, pupa or adult) in conjunction applied out of the season of reproduction, with insecticides spraying until between November and late April. Major plantation. This method might be held as operations are (14): an efficient way to prevent the spread of • Eradication of suitable oviposition Oryctes through planting material and and breeding sites of the pest by the must be considered as an important elimination of destroyed vegetal material component of the Oryctes -management previously transformed by larvae to small program that offers the much needed granules (firm material) where females quarantine security against these pests. laid their eggs and young larvae live and However, the second period interested develop until new adult emergence. autonomous offshoots during the first Moreover, this operation allows on one year after plantation. A simple method hand to expose these parts to ambient air can be mentioned and which would avoid and sun radiations making them dry, hard and restrict the spread of adults and the and unattractive to beetle, and on the identification of suspicious material other hand the handpicking (manual undetected by quarantine service. It extraction) using a metallic wire of all stands in caging offshoots with a mesh encountered life history stages of the pest net within plantations. This method could from feeding tunnels and their serve as a useful post-entry or post- destruction. plantation protocol. This, if done under • Throughout stem, farmers have to supervision and proper certification, use a saw to prune on scale the dry would play a major role in preventing petioles levels. This action destructs the spread of the pest to new plantations, oviposition sites of beetles by eliminating regions and countries. the matrixes of fibrilium with larvae and adults. However, it is far better to keep AGRONOMIC MEASURES the last 4 to 6 levels of dry petioles Agronomic methods which may be located just under the crown as a trap to applied against O. agamemnon arabicus beetles in the goal to avoid the passage of in the oasis of Southwest Tunisia are easy invasion to the basal levels of the crown. and not expensive but meticulous. The second part is related to unclean Universally, major recommendations palm trees which display too many have been made for cautious offshoots at their base. These palms offer phytosanitary steps inside and around to beetles suitable sites for reproduction plantations to destroy any life history and eggs oviposition. Therefore, to break stages found in all breeding sites. For the pest cycle in this place, it is necessary farmers, sanitation constitutes the most to make it clean, exposed to sun light and simple and effective way of controlling air. Accordingly, farmers are encouraged the species. Its principle, based on several to eliminate the excessive number of methods and techniques, is to unbalance offshoots which can be either used to Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 187 Vol. 5, No. 2, 2010 replace lacks inside the same plantation CHEMICAL CONTROL after being treated with insecticides to kill Presently, chemical control larvae, developing in its basal part, or perfected against O. agamemnon arabicus must be automatically eradicated. is quiet ineffective. Subsequently, this However, sanitation is a careful pest management of both in old work and a slow methodical process productive and young date palm oases which can be hindered by the ability to scarcely relies on insecticide use that is detect infested material and the necessary almost absent. This is due in part to time to execute this work. Approximately specific factors in relation with the every five years, the Ministry of biology and ecology of the species, and in Agriculture launches a campaign of other part to the morphology of the plant eradication of this pest by collecting and (problems of access to the crown of burning the various stages of the pest in mature palms). However, insecticides can infested oases. Despite the granting of be used for both as preventive and financial incentives to make this work, curative applications as listed below the low involvement of the farmers in the (unpublished data). campaign follow up has translated into a significant growth of the O. agamemnon Preventive treatment. Preventive arabicus population. Consequently, the treatments have to be applied during the lack of consciousness rising about the whole period of adults’ activities to be risks of this pest induce few farmers to sure about their effectiveness in killing apply these techniques within their adults making possible the prevention of plantations (14). their entry in the reproduction and oviposition sites situated on different TRAINING AND EXTENSION levels of the palm tree. Next applications Extension constitutes a very can be useful: important method to diffuse information  Stem and crown between farmers. In Southwest Tunisia, spraying/soaking. few meeting and studies are organized on  Protecting wounds and entry the subject of this pest. Thus, the solution holes localized on the aerial part of the consists in the organization of meeting respiratory roots with insecticides. conferences, field days, and workshops in  Use of repellent products on collaboration between research the crown of productive palms and in new institutions (researchers), agricultural plantations to drive away adults from the organisms (engineers, technicians) and palm tree. farmers are indispensable to the diffusion of important information about the Curative treatment. Curative relative pest danger. In addition, the pest spraying intended for the immature stages is free of control by natural enemies on located on the respiratory roots are date palm oases of Tunisia which make ineffective, the pesticide emulsion can not worse this problem. Consequently, the reach the location of these stages well goals of these meetings and training are to protected inside their shelter. However, if take farmers informed concerning mean the spraying focus on the higher parts of of control of this pest. Farmers can also mature palm trees, in this case and to be help to the diffusion of these techniques effective, specific treatment must be to other farmers. applied by spraying or soaking the whole stem and crown. The application of such Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 188 Vol. 5, No. 2, 2010 type of treatment, which requires higher be very effective in protecting young dosages of chemical products, constitutes palms (17) and also in old palms by the only way to make possible the contact driving away adults before they cause of pesticide with different developmental damage. stages and then its effectiveness. However, although the efficiency ATTRACTANTS application of this method, it is Compost heaps. Traps of various considered to be too expensive for types can be used. The simplest are on the general use within plantations compared form of breeding sites and play the role of to the low value per hectare of date a trap or attractant for adults such as production which severely limits compost of sheep manure and sawdust or expenditure on control measures. heaps of decaying vegetable matter buried Moreover, other serious hazards involved inside a pit on the ground within invaded in spraying tall palms by this way, due to plantations. Traps of compost must be put the loss of products at the time of its in place on the late spring early summer application to higher palms make farmers (late April to May) before the starting of highly exposed to the risks of toxicant the reproduction and oviposition periods spillage and inhalation. Thus, (14). disadvantages of this application reside These organic heaps operate as traps on the use of important quantities of by attracting a large number of beetles, in chemicals per treatment endangered by particularly females, which lay down repetitive treatments to ensure the their eggs and subsequently largely remanence of the product and its contribute in the decline of the pest’s efficiency and this was not safe both to populations inside plantations and of their environment and human. impact on the palm trees (14). However, chemical control was Consequently, compost heaps stands recommended and constitutes the widely as very favorable breeding sites for the advocated method of control Oryctes species and then can receive and (unpublished work): produce large populations in one cycle. In  To sweep out the existing this case, compost piles within plantations stages of the pest within offshoots, before should be maintained properly. Its upkeep being replanted offshoots bases are includes the destruction of all life stages dipped within a barrel containing a of the pest and its treatment using solution of insecticide for 5 min, insecticide or inoculums of the parasitic necessary time to penetration of the fungus like Metarhizium anisopliae pesticide inside larval galleries. By this which contaminated and killed the way, larvae were killed by the product in beetles’ larvae of the similar species O. a short period. This method can ensure rhinoceros in the Pacific region (8, 9, 10). the safety of offshoots during the residual Also, before its application as soil period, after that they constitute a new fertilizer, compost must be sieved to target to other invasion by adult beetles. eliminate the remainder of larvae and  To protect young palm adults (14). replanting (< 5 years old), by soaking all the plant with pesticide during the period Light traps. Adults are nocturnal of adults’ activity. and attracted to any source of light. Early  Use of repellent products as experiences at trapping Oryctes in Mrah naphthalene balls into the frond axils can lahouar zone include the use of one light Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 189 Vol. 5, No. 2, 2010 trap by the Regional Research Center of ■ Distribution of the pest should be Oasis Agriculture at Deguech (6). The use assessed by exploratory surveys in of only one light trap in the pilot station healthy regions, (3.5 ha) of Rjim Maatoug permitted to ■ Adoption and application of experiment the effectiveness of light trap phytosanitary steps in infested oases, for three years. However, more than 550 ■ Need to organize programs on O. adults are trapped per season of activity, agamemnon arabicus to get farmers from June to mid-October. These good informed about the real danger of the results and by the availability of several species and its threat on this economically traps inside oasis and their exploitation important crop, for successive years during the period of ■ Making available information on activity of beetles can ensure important this pest in the regions concerned with reduction of the pest population (14). date palm trees cultivation and including good photos of larvae, adults, symptoms BIOLOGICAL CONTROL and damages, O. agamemnon arabicus is an exotic ■ Extension of information on species in Tunisia. Therefore, natural control measures to concerned farmers, factors that keep the beetle under control ■ Extension of compost use within in its native range are not present when plantation to a significantly decrease both introduced and this factor facilitates and of the pest’s impact on palm trees and of makes easy its reproduction and local their populations. spread. Biological control via parasitoids, ■ Support and implementation of predators and entomo-pathogenic fungi IPM program are not yet identified and available ■ Development of mass trapping against this pest in Tunisia due to its using light traps and compost technique recent introduction and to the lack of ■ Establishment of research deeper relative studies (14). programs to tackle and develop mass trapping with aggregation pheromone RECOMMENDATIONS ■ Introduction of biological control For raising awareness and capacity relying on the use of the fungus building, it is necessary to make farmers Metharizium anisopliae and the of the Southwest region understanding antagonist Oryctes virus showing that O. agamemnon arabicus is not so effective results in the Pacific coconuts’ much a national responsibility, but rather plantation (4, 5, 11). a regional responsibility. If it was already established in some oases of the region, it CONCLUSION is highly likely that it will eventually In conclusion, O. agamemnon spread to others (14). Next steps are arabicus has became a major pest and a needed both to limit its spread and its worrying threat to palm trees in infested population increase within infested oases: oases of Southwest Tunisia where it has ■ Adoption and serious application thriven unnoticed. Economically, it is of strict quarantine measures on the considered as secondary pest without movement of offshoots from infested to effect on production. This point made healthy areas, farmers and administration in charges of ■ Need of more attention to the pest agriculture unaware of the hazard for two from the authority and scientists due to its reasons: the unperceived damage and the threat to palm trees, Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 190 Vol. 5, No. 2, 2010

small number of yearly collapsed palm quarantine measures are the only way to trees. prevent the spread of the pest out of All means of its management still unhealthy zones. Obviously, it is time to rudimentary and traditional relying consider this species as a serious pest of mainly on hand collection of different palm trees in Tunisia. So, first steps have stages. Then, farmers are encouraged to to target the control and to limit its achieve a careful and intensive work populations; this can be possible by: i) every year to cleanse their plantations but, informing farmers how to use the this repeated work is very hard and time compost technique to bait adults, ii) consuming and farmers are unable to studying the possibility of biological control all their palm trees. Consequently, control by the introduction of natural they give up collecting the pest which enemies inside infested oases. population explode and became uncontrollable. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Facing to this situation and due to Our thanks go specifically to Dr. Ikbel Chaieb, from the Institut National de Recherche the ineffectiveness of chemical control Agronomique de Tunisie (INRAT) for his help in the and the lack of biological control, severe revision and amelioration of the manuscript content.

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RESUME Soltani R. 2010. Le scarabée rhinocéros Oryctes agamemnon arabicus en Tunisie: situation actuelle et les futures perspectives de lutte. Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 5: 179-193.

Oryctes agamemnon arabicus a été signalé dans certains oasis du sud ouest Tunisien en 1995. Les sites favorables à son développement sont les différentes parties du palmier dattier vivant. La femelle dépose environ 27 œufs. Les adultes sont nocturnes et passent le jour cachés dans leur abri, ils s’alimentent occasionnellement sur le jus extrait à partir des racines respiratoires. Leur rôle est limité à la reproduction et à la dispersion de l’espèce sur de courtes distances. Cependant, les larves représentent les stades nuisibles de l’espèce et non les adultes. Elles s’attaquent à différentes parties du palmier dattier, racines respiratoires, parties superficielles du stipe (fibrilium, écorce du stipe et pétiole sec) et la base de la couronne. Ces derniers représentent les sites de développement d’ Oryctes . Le danger réel de cette espèce réside dans l’attaque de la zone respiratoire de la racine, support de base de la plante et secondairement à la périphérie de la couronne. La lutte contre cette espèce est avant tout préventive ciblant les sites d’élevage afin de réduire les populations. Les mesures de quarantaine par l’interdiction des mouvements des rejets bloquent la dispersion de l’espèce vers de nouvelles zones, les techniques culturales ciblent le contrôle et la destruction des sites de développement et les pièges de différents types attirent les adultes. Toutes ces méthodes contribuent à réduire considérablement les populations à l’intérieur des plantations.

Mots clés : Cycle de vie, dégâts, lutte, Oryctes agamemnon arabicus , palmier dattier, Tunisie. ______

 ،ر . 2010 ا. ءو ة ان Oryctes agamemnon arabicus : اااهو ا ق ادار . Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 5: 179-193

ارةإ ود ة ا ءو ة ان( Oryctes agamemnon arabicus ) واتابا ا 1995 ،ّ ااا ة . و آا آ أارها Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 191 Vol. 5, No. 2, 2010

أاءاا ، ارب 27 ّ. هاااتاأءار ا ره اولا . وهى ًََ ارةا ا ورا . ودور ات ااوجواهارا ع تة. واراةارة رارااأارا اء ا : اورا وااءار قوااااهاهافأهاأاراة . ّو اار ااور،اةارزا،ااقاارا دة اج ود ونآ . أق هاة وآءوفأ ا اوج اةآأاده . أاااراا دلاا أه اا اةإةزدة ؛ إ اتارااافأ إا ر اةأادهوآالاأاب تاة . آها ا هآةاأاداةدااات. آت: ار، أار،، دورةة، ، ا، Oryctes agamemnon arabicus ______

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Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 194 Vol. 5, No. 2, 2010