@article {6, title = {Potential Distribution Predicted for Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in China under Different Climate Warming Scenarios}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {10}, year = {2015}, month = {10/2015}, pages = {e0141111}, abstract = {

As the primary pest of palm trees, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) has caused serious harm to palms since it first invaded China. The present study used CLIMEX 1.1 to predict the potential distribution of R. ferrugineus in China according to both current climate data (1981\–2010) and future climate warming estimates based on simulated climate data for the 2020s (2011\–2040) provided by the Tyndall Center for Climate Change Research (TYN SC 2.0). Additionally, the Ecoclimatic Index (EI) values calculated for different climatic conditions (current and future, as simulated by the B2 scenario) were compared. Areas with a suitable climate for R. ferrugineus distribution were located primarily in central China according to the current climate data, with the northern boundary of the distribution reaching to 40.1\°N and including Tibet, north Sichuan, central Shaanxi, south Shanxi, and east Hebei. There was little difference in the potential distribution predicted by the four emission scenarios according to future climate warming estimates. The primary prediction under future climate warming models was that, compared with the current climate model, the number of highly favorable habitats would increase significantly and expand into northern China, whereas the number of both favorable and marginally favorable habitats would decrease. Contrast analysis of EI values suggested that climate change and the density of site distribution were the main effectors of the changes in EI values. These results will help to improve control measures, prevent the spread of this pest, and revise the targeted quarantine areas.

}, doi = {doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0141111}, author = {Xuezhen Ge and Shanyong He and Tao Wang and Wei Yan and Shixiang Zong} } @article {5, title = {A meridic diet for laboratory rearing of Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)}, journal = {Scientific Research and Essays}, volume = {8}, year = {2013}, month = {10/2013}, pages = {1924-1932}, abstract = {

The red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferruginous (Olivier) was fully developed and reared on a meridic diet consisting of agar, distilled water, commercial yeast as well as laboratory produced amino and fatty acid rich brewer\’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), wheat meal, corn flour, benzoic acid, ascorbic acid, sorbic acid, vitamin mix and tetracycline hydrochloride. A group of weevils reared on date palm trunk under the same laboratory conditions was used as control. Diet reared female weevils laid fertile eggs which successfully hatched into healthy larvae in 3.6 days. Between the first and last (eighth) larval instars there was a 2311 fold increase in the larval body biomass before pupation. Linear regression analysis involving log of head capsule width of each instar and instar number resulted in a straight line (R2= 0.978) indicating that Dyar\&$\#$39;s rule is applicable in the case of RPW. Larval development was completed in 43 to 47 days while the pupa reached the adult stage in 31 to 38 days with an average of 35 day. The whole life cycle of the weevil from egg to adult, was completed in 78 to 85 days. The average adult longevity for male and female weevils was 83.3 and 74.8 days, respectively. Besides the above, important biological parameters including pre-oviposition period, incubation period, per cent egg hatchability, fecundity and larval weight gain were recorded. A food-fiber pupation technique was developed with 100\% pupation efficiency.

}, keywords = {biological parameters, Dyar{\textquoteright}s rule, food-fiber pupation technique, larval instar, meridic diet, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus}, doi = {10.5897/SRE2013.5502}, author = {H.A.F. El-Shafie and J.R. Faleiro and M.M. Abo-El-Saad and S.M. Aleid} }