dsRNA for preventing, mitigating and/or treating infestation of a plant with red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), the dsRNA comprising a polynucleotide sequence which is about 85% to about 100% complementary to a segment of a target gene of the red palm weevil, wherein ingestion of the dsRNA polynucleotide by the red palm weevil results in mortality and/or stunting thereof.