Official government website of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
A joint research team from the university's College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine has discovered and registered a new species of red palm weevil in the Kingdom. This was achieved through a research study that monitored its genetic diversity, making this discovery the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa.
According to the research study, this species was discovered in the Al-Qassim region after studying the genetic diversity and characteristics of the insect. It was registered as a new species (Rhynchophorus bilineatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)), and also registered in the international gene bank under the name of Qassim University. This is the first record of this species in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries. The university research team included Professor Dr. Mohammed Al-Dughairi, Professor Dr. Nagdi Farouk, Professor Dr. Mohammed Matawe, Dr. Medhat Rayhan, and Dr. Asmaa Al-Najayban.
The study, published in a high-impact factor scientific journal, highlighted the genetic biodiversity of red palm weevil species in the Qassim region and their damage to palm trees.
This study comes as part of the ongoing research efforts by the university to support campaigns for combating and preventing red palm weevil infestation, which is one of the most deadly threats to palm cultivation in the region.
