Bursaphelenchus cocophilus

red ring nematode

Aphelenchoides cocophilus Aphelenchus cocophilus Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus Chitinoaphelenchus cocophilus

North America: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panam, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago; South America: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela

Not known to be in the US

2025-08-19

nematode

Added to the Vietnam pest list in 2023.

Naturally infects coconut and oil palms, can be artificially inoculated into cabbage palm. No known seeded crops.

RHAACO

Bursaphelenchus cocophilus causes red ring disease in coconut palms, leading to yellowing fronds, reduced nut production, and eventual tree death. It spreads primarily via the coconut palm weevil and within infected plant tissue, and it is not transmitted through seeds. (CABI, Nemaplex)