Nano-technology for Real-Time Control
of the Red Palm Weevil Under Climate
Change
El-Sayed Ewis Omran
Abstract The Red Palm Weevil (RPW) is a devastating insect on the date palm in
the Arabic countries. It causes considerable damage to date palm plantations. All the
stages of insect are hidden inside the palm tree and larvae feed on the interior tissue
of trunk. For this reason, the detection of infection in the early stages is very difficult
or impossible and when the action of the pest is discovered, normally it is too late for
recovering the tree. The current measures used to control the insect are not effective
enough to succeed in eliminating the insect because of the great difficulty in early
detection of infection and reaching all life stages inside the trunk. The objective of this
study is to detect the presence of living stages of RPW, which are hidden in the palm
tree. Sensors and nanoparticles have useful applications in detection and treatment
of the date palm. The study revealed that using Nano-techniques such as an acoustic
sensor, thermal sensors as fingerprints, the infection of RPW can be discovered in
early stages. The results of the audio analysis would be reported wirelessly to a
control station for subsequent processing to send warning messages to be accessible
via the Internet. Nano-thermal sensors are efficient to detect the existence of the
RPW through its thermal properties. Also, using Nano-minerals as a treatment for
the already Red Date Palm Weevil is important. The nanoparticle minerals (Rutile,
Anatase or Brookite) were used and prepared in Moringa oleifera leaves extract to
control RPW. The plant-mediated biosynthesis of nanoparticles is advantageous over
chemical and physical methods because it is a cost-effective and environmentally
friendly method, where it is not necessary to use high pressure, energy, temperature,
and toxic chemicals. Also, using ultra-sonic sensors prevent the RPW to attack the
date palm trees. Unlike traditional methods, which are time-consuming, and labor
intensive, these types of methods offer the advantages of keeping the palm trees
intact; reduce costs, as well as saving time and money in the process of pest infestation
detection. Nano-minerals extract (NME) drastically decreased developmental stages
of R. ferrugineus. The compound is a 100% natural solution. It is derived from natural
E.-S. E. Omran (B)
Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
e-mail: ee.omran@gmail.com
Department of Natural Resources, Institute of African Research and Studies, Aswan University,
Aswan, Egypt
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
E.-S. E. Omran and A. M. Negm (eds.), Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture and Food
Security in Egypt, Springer Water, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41629-4_15
321
of the Red Palm Weevil Under Climate
Change
El-Sayed Ewis Omran
Abstract The Red Palm Weevil (RPW) is a devastating insect on the date palm in
the Arabic countries. It causes considerable damage to date palm plantations. All the
stages of insect are hidden inside the palm tree and larvae feed on the interior tissue
of trunk. For this reason, the detection of infection in the early stages is very difficult
or impossible and when the action of the pest is discovered, normally it is too late for
recovering the tree. The current measures used to control the insect are not effective
enough to succeed in eliminating the insect because of the great difficulty in early
detection of infection and reaching all life stages inside the trunk. The objective of this
study is to detect the presence of living stages of RPW, which are hidden in the palm
tree. Sensors and nanoparticles have useful applications in detection and treatment
of the date palm. The study revealed that using Nano-techniques such as an acoustic
sensor, thermal sensors as fingerprints, the infection of RPW can be discovered in
early stages. The results of the audio analysis would be reported wirelessly to a
control station for subsequent processing to send warning messages to be accessible
via the Internet. Nano-thermal sensors are efficient to detect the existence of the
RPW through its thermal properties. Also, using Nano-minerals as a treatment for
the already Red Date Palm Weevil is important. The nanoparticle minerals (Rutile,
Anatase or Brookite) were used and prepared in Moringa oleifera leaves extract to
control RPW. The plant-mediated biosynthesis of nanoparticles is advantageous over
chemical and physical methods because it is a cost-effective and environmentally
friendly method, where it is not necessary to use high pressure, energy, temperature,
and toxic chemicals. Also, using ultra-sonic sensors prevent the RPW to attack the
date palm trees. Unlike traditional methods, which are time-consuming, and labor
intensive, these types of methods offer the advantages of keeping the palm trees
intact; reduce costs, as well as saving time and money in the process of pest infestation
detection. Nano-minerals extract (NME) drastically decreased developmental stages
of R. ferrugineus. The compound is a 100% natural solution. It is derived from natural
E.-S. E. Omran (B)
Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
e-mail: ee.omran@gmail.com
Department of Natural Resources, Institute of African Research and Studies, Aswan University,
Aswan, Egypt
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
E.-S. E. Omran and A. M. Negm (eds.), Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture and Food
Security in Egypt, Springer Water, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41629-4_15
321