Preliminary evaluation of acoustic sensors for early detection of red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus incidence on oil palm and coconut in Malaysia

The red palm weevil (RPW) is a notorious phytophagous pest infesting various palm species around the world. In Malaysia, the RPW was known to cause damage on coconuts in the East Coast regions of the Peninsula and posed risks to oil palms. Thus, early detection and monitoring studies of RPW in both coconuts and oil palms by using acoustic sensors were carried out at Dungun, Terengganu and Tanah Merah, Kelantan. The smart sensor identified the presence of RPW within the coconuts and oil palms. Continuous monitoring of RPW using acoustic sensors is needed to avoid the risk of spreading of this cryptic borer, especially in oil palm plantations.