Question

Red Palm weevil
(A) Adult has six dark spots on the thorax (B) Grub is pale yellow and has well-developed legs (C) Both grub and adult cause the damage (D) Gummosis and crown toppling occur due to its feeding
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. (A), (B) and (C) only.
• B. (B), (C) and (D) only.
• C. (A), (B) and (D) only.
• D. (A), (C) and (D) only.

Hint:

Weevil grubs (larvae) of this pest are legless, unlike many other insect larvae.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The adult Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is reddish-brown with noticeable dark spots on its thorax (A), and both the larval grub stage and the adult stage feed on the palm and cause damage (C). Its feeding commonly leads to gummosis, and in severe cases, crown toppling (D).
Where the question goes wrong is statement (B): the grub itself is actually legless and soft-bodied, not equipped with "well-developed legs" as claimed.
Since (A), (C) and (D) hold true and (B) does not, the answer is option 4.