Assessment of Environmental Factors Affecting Red Palm Weevil Dissemination and Their Implications for Raw Material Supply Chain Security in the Food Industry (Case Study: Safwan District, ۲۰۲۳–۲۰۲۴)

The results showed the year-round presence of red palm weevils in all study areas. Monthly variations in adult populations were observed throughout the two years, with fluctuations in population numbers occurring in three peak periods during May, December, and April, with the highest rates (۴.۳۸, ۴.۲۵, and ۴.۱۹ insects per trap, respectively). The lowest insect densities were recorded during February, September, and October, with densities of ۱.۰۸, ۱.۱۹, and ۲.۰۶ insects per trap, respectively, in ۲۰۲۳. In ۲۰۲۴, four peak periods were observed during April, November, May, and October, with densities of ۶.۹۶, ۶.۴۴, ۶.۲۳, and ۶.۱۷ insects per trap, respectively. The lowest densities were recorded during January, December, February, and July, with densities of ۱.۹۶, ۲.۰۶, ۲.۹۸, and ۳.۳۵ insects per trap, respectively. The insect population in the eastern Safwan region increased to ۶.۰۹ and ۱۰.۲۸ insects per trap, compared to the lowest density in the Kharda region (۱.۲۶ and ۲.۵۷ insects per trap) in ۲۰۲۳ and ۲۰۲۴, respectively. It was observed that higher densities (۳.۱۹ and ۵.۳۹) insects/trap were recorded for females compared to males, which recorded densities that did not exceed (۲.۲۴ and ۳.۶۰) insects/trap, with an average sex ratio for males of ۴۱.۲۷ and ۴۰% and for females ۵۸.۷۲ and ۵۹.۹۷% for the years ۲۰۲۳ and ۲۰۲۴ respectively. This study does not include direct measurements of food safety endpoints (e.g., pathogen or contaminant levels in dates). The findings are limited to pest population dynamics and are intended to inform integrated pest management strategies.

کلیدواژه ها:

Biological control ، Insect pests ، date palm ، Rhynchophorus ferrugineus ، Population dynamics