Geography and Population Dynamics of Insect Pests Affecting Ornamental Palms

Dear Colleagues,

Many palm species have been horticulturally dispersed well beyond their native range and planted as landscaping features in urban and amenity settings throughout warm temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions. Ubiquitous examples are Canary Islands date palms (Phoenix canariensis), Californian and Mexican Fan Palms (Washingtonia filifera and W. robusta) or Queen/Cocos palms (Syagrus romanzoffiana). Many species have become naturalised in their new environments, with many becoming invasive. The ornamental palm craze was in full swing between the 1880s and World War I, leading to extensive street tree and garden plantings in many parts of the world. Since then, the demand for ornamental palms has waxed and waned, but never fully abated, as a visit to the garden section of a local hardware superstore will reveal: a plethora of potted palms is being sold for indoor and outdoor settings.

Hand in hand with the global dispersal of the ornamental palms, however, went the dispersal of palm pests, primarily insects. Some of these pests are host-specific, but most have been able to adapt to different palm species. Some insect species have gained world-wide attention as rapidly spreading pests wreaking destruction wherever they are introduced. The red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is a prominent example. Other species may be ‘sleeper’ species that may gain prominence due to changing climatic conditions.

Invited are contributions that address one or more palm pest species.

This issue particularly invites papers that consider one or more of the following aspects:

• Historic trajectories of geographic dispersal;
• Non-anthropogenic mechanisms of geographic dispersal;
• Anthropogenic modes of geographic dispersal (e.g., horticultural trade);
• Population dynamics;
• Reproductive strategies;
• Mechanics of infestation;
• Effects of climate change on frequency or intensity of host utilisation;
• Host-specificity;
• Natural predator relationships;
• Biological control measures.

Prof. Dr. Dirk H.R. Spennemann
Guest Editor

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• biogeography
• cryptic species
• insect behaviour
• insect-plant interactions