Steam bark distillates of the typica and aurancica varieties of Cocos nucifera (host plant) Ternlinulia catappa (Kottamba) and Albizzia urnara Boiv. (Albizzia) (nonhost plants) and Areca catechu L. (Puwak) and Areca concmna Thw. Enum. (Lentheti) (alternate hosts) were subjected to electrophysiological and behavioural assays to compare the attractiveness to the coconut pest, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). In the electroantennogram (EAG) assay, the steam distillates of C. nucifera form aurancica elicited the highest response of 79.1% (relative to standard) and the form typica (young bark) 55.6% to the antenna ofR. ferrugineus both values being significantly different (p<0.05, ANOVA, Scheffe's test) from those of the nonhosts T. catappa and A. amara (10.9% and 5.9% respectively). EAGs of old bark (51.4%) steam distillate of C. nucifera form typica did not differ significantly from that of the young bark distillates (55.6%). The two alternate hosts, A. catechu and A. concinna showed moderate EAG activities (29.4% and 25.9% respectively) between those of host varieties and nonhosts. In a behavioural assay (choice test) using an olfactometer the steam distillates of host palms were more attractive (pc0.05, ANOVA, Scheffe's test) to the red weevil than those of the nonhosts. C. nucifera form aurancica was more , attractive (79.9% attraction to the baited arm) than typica. Between young and old palms of C. nucifera form typica, no significant difference (p>O.OB, ANOVA, Scheffe's test) in the behavioural activity was observed. The alternate hosts showed moderate activity.