Expert working group 2008-12, review in 2009. This PRA supported the addition of the pest to the EPPO A1 List.

- This pest has been intercepted at least 4 times since 2006, and can often go undetected (Weissling & Giblin-Davis, 2003). 

- The pest has a relatively broad host range: Arecaceae, Musa spp., Sachharum officinarum. 

- The hidden life cycle inside the palm assists establishment of the pest. 

- The hidden life cycle inside the palm makes the pest likely to survive eradication measures in the southern part of the EPPO region.

- The pest is likely to spread rapidly by human assistance. 

- The pest may have impacts economic impacts (effects on crops, control costs, environmental and social impacts) considered as moderate.

 - For both ornamental and palms as crops for oil and food, the damage caused by M. hemipterus increases the chances of infestation by other pests such as Rhynchophorus cruentatus, Diocalandra frumenti in the Canary Islands, Oryctes nasicornis, Paysandisia archon, etc..