The date palm Phoenix dactylifera is a valuable tree that has economic, social, cultural, and ecological significances. Beside production of highly nutritious edible dates and numerous byproducts, the tree acts as an important sink for sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, thus mitigating the impact of climate change. Moreover, date palm sector contributes largely to food security, livelihood of rural communities, and environmental sustainability.

The date palm agroecosystem comprises diverse groups of animals including insects, mites, birds, reptiles, and mammals. There are so many arthropod pests of date palm, which might exceed 135 species, however, a few ones, wreak havoc on date palm and cause economic damage that necessitate management action. The date palm pests could be classified according to the affected parts of the palm into roots, trunk, fronds, inflorescence, and fruit pests. Pests that cause injury to the roots, trunk, and frond midrib include the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, the longhorn borer Jebusaea hammerschmidti, different species of termites, frond borer Phonapate frontalis, and the rhinoceros beetles Oryctes spp., while dubas bug Ommatissus binotatus, scale insects, and mealy bugs inflict serious damage on leaves. Major preharvest pests that attack inflorescence and premature fruits include the lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula Meyerick, the greater date moth Aphomia (Arenipses) sabella, the carob moth Ectomyelois (Apomyelois) ceratoniae, the date stone beetle Coccotrypes dactyliperda, the inflorescence (spathe) weevil  Derelomus sp and the old world date mite Oligonychus afrasiaticus.

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