INSECT PESTS ATTACKING DATE PALMS AND DATES IN SULTANATE OF OMAN

A survey was conducted between 1993 and 2000 in different regions of Oman to collect and identify insect and mite pests affecting date palms and of dates. The results indicated that 24 species of insects and 3 species of mites attack date palms. The red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, dubas bug Ommatissus lybicus Bergevin, lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula Meyrick and old world date mite Oligonychus afrasiaticus McGregor were identified to be of major economic importance, quantitatively and qualitatively affecting growth and yield of date palms. Some new date palm pests were also recorded comprising of Aphis gossypill Glover, Holathrothrips Josephi Bhatti, Amitermes stephensoni Harris, a micro Lepidoptera leaf skeletonizer (unidentified), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, frond date borer phonapate frontalis., Fahraeus, Arenipses sabella Hampson, Anacridium melanorhodon arabafrum Dirsh and Schistocerca gregaria Forskal. In stores, seven insect species were found to attack dates, the most economic insect pests attacking dates during storage, being Ephestia cautella Walker and Oryzaephilus surinamensis Linnaeus