Can cayenne pepper protect palms from the red palm weevil?

[Alberto]

I read this interesting information on the spanish forum: PALMAS Y PALMERAS EN ESPAÑOL, about the properties of cayenne pepper on red palm weevil. It presumably can easily kill the weevils that have contact with pepper and even protect palms that are " injected" with cayenne pepper solution.  (???) 

"I fumigated all the palm trees and I discovered that when the weevils land on a specimen that has been fumigated with cayenne pepper, in a few seconds, without time to drill or lay eggs, they fall to the ground and their lives end there. The weevil does not die from poisoning, it dies from paralysis of its nervous system. The cayenne pepper is not a poison, it does not contaminate the delicious dates, you can eat them without fear of being intoxicated.

 https://lavozdeltrubia.es/2018/05/09/una-manera-sencilla-de-acabar-con-el-picudo-de-las-palmeras/     http://picudodelaspalmeras.blogspot.com/

[5am]

A picture or two of the setup he describes for the injection in the comments would be really helpful. I enjoy cayenne peppers but I never would have guessed that palms might also! 

[VA Jeff]

Perhaps a more potent hot pepper would work better.  Cayenne peppers are fairly low in capsaicin, which is likely the agent involved in its effectiveness.  Habaneros are common hot peppers that are far stronger than cayenne.  Be careful spraying the palms, if you're not used to spicy foods.  It might make it difficult to breathe for a minute.  And if you get the spiciness on your hands, be careful of going to the bathroom.

Capsaicin has been successfully used to discourage squirrels from attacking palm seeds on occasion.  It doesn't have the desired effect on birds though.

[Alberto]

In the past I had problems with Rhynchophorus palmarum , our native black palm weevil' specially on Phoenix canariensis. First I have to find a weevil ( not easy) and will try pepper on one insect and see what happens.

[PalmatierMeg]

After we lost our largest Bismarckia to palm weevils we read that during spring when weevils reproduce we should cut up bars of Ivory soap (soap, not detergent or deodorant bars) and stick the pieces into the crown of our remaining Bizzies to deter weevils from laying eggs there. We had no more weevil infestations or problems, although Hurricane Ian took out 4 of 6 palms. The last 2 are still on life support and vulnerable.

[miamicuse]

Ghost peppers?