Treating red palm weevil - "Palmdoc"

[Martingee]

To Blue

Yes, it seems the weevils are here for good as the trees were originally imported from the Canary Isles. There, there were natural predators to keep the weevil population controlled, here, and in other countries the weevil is safe as it isn't part of any food chain. I have been told that in Israel they net the palms and I understand in Saudi there is even a chair at the university devoted to solving the problem of the red palm weevil.

Incidently, the guy at Sanpina told me that unless you already have an infestation don't use the traps as they serve to attract the insect to the area and, if it chooses your palm instead of the bucket you have shot yourself in the foot.

[blue]

That's interesting, did not know that about the traps & we use Sanipina too, we've caught quite a few of the weevils, great big ones. One of our trees was showing signs of infestation even though it had been treated regularly which is why we got the traps. All our palm trees are young ours is a new build so we started the garden from scratch more or less, fortunately as we are in a rustic location most of our trees are ones that were on the plot originally, olives, almonds & huge carobs. We only planted 3 palms I will be very sorry if we lose them because they seem to be thriving but it wouldn't be the end of the world. I planted a jacaranda tree about 3 years ago & it's beautiful, it has bloomed at least twice a year for the last 2 years, lovely blue flowers & beautiful foliage.

[martin]

depends what you mean "infestation" the whole area near my home has dead palms..the bucket has caught loads and hopefully diverted them from my 3 palms. if your area has no dead palms then you have been very fortunate so far

the bucket has to be sited about 50 metres from the palm to attact the weevil away from the palms not as some have done next to the tree

[blue]

That's interesting too, we have two buckets & one of them is probably only about 30 -40 meters away from one of the palms, I will have to check & move it if necessary.

[martin]

information from the us govt . listen as well to the 8 min podcast re buckets etc

see here


http://cisr.ucr.edu/red_palm_weevil.html

[EMM]

There is a report in this weeks expat press that any palm found infected should be cutdown and the remains destroyed as this is the only way to ensure the survival of some palms.

That will hit the pockets of a few and the chemical suppliers but it does sound like a good idea.

[martin]

just cut down 3 metre high washingtonia palm ... usual rotting smell and core and about 25 bugs in it..some still in their cocoons while others crawaling around

[Globetrotter]

I just took down 2 25 year old date palms. Still have two left and a washingtonian. I can only hope that the washingtonian is next as I really dislike it.

[Lesley Jean]

Luckily our palm is surviving really well, it has been treated last summer and then every couple of months since and it is showing no signs of disease.