Red palm * weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Ovil. (Col.: Curculionidae) is one of the most important pests of different palms in Asia, North Africa, and Spain. At present it is an internal quarantined pest in
Saravan region, Iran. Several investigations were carried out on the host preference of RPW on 5 date palm varieties including Mazafati, Rabbi,
Halileh, Zardan, pimazoo and a native wild palm (Nannrrhops ritchiana (Grift) Aitch.), during 1997-1998 in Saravan region. Based on the field studies
in the infested date palm groves, the most infested variety was Mazafati. Young palms between 5-20 years old were the most susceptible to RPW. The infestation was directly correlated with the density of date palms too. The attractiveness of volatile chemical components of wild palms for RPW was
significantly less than the orther date palm varieties. Mazafati and Pimazo
were more attractive for RPW than the other varieties. The life span of RPW was maxiumum in Zardan and minimum in Mazfati under the field conditions,
while RPW could,nt complete its life cycle on wild palm. Based on varieties grouping wild palm was introduced as a resistant plant to RPW. Preference rate increased for zardan, Rabbi, Halileh pimazoo and Mazafati respectively. and Mazafati was the most susceptible variety to RPW.
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