Red Palm Weevil detection triggers phytosanitary emergency in Argentina

Authorities in Argentina and Uruguay are intensifying efforts to combat the Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), an invasive beetle that causes irreversible damage and death to palm trees. In Argentina, the National Service of Agrifood Health and Quality (Senasa) has declared a phytosanitary emergency in the provinces of Buenos Aires and Entre Ríos, effective until June 30, 2028. This follows the detection of the pest in the Uruguay department of Entre Ríos, where severe damage was found in Phoenix canariensis specimens.

In response to the spread in neighboring Entre Ríos, the government of Salto, Uruguay, has reinforced preventive surveillance. Local authorities are conducting monthly monitoring of over 200 palm trees and utilizing monitoring traps to prevent the pest from crossing the Uruguay River. The strategy involves technical coordination between health and environmental departments, the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, and entomologists in Argentina.

The pest is particularly destructive because its larvae tunnel into the trunk to reach the apical bud. In Uruguay, where the infestation has been active since 2022, it is estimated that between 25% and 35% of palm trees are infested or dead, with urban infestation rates reaching up to 60%.