Dying palm trees

[Fencer]

I am currently looking into the new chemical that owners are being advised to use and the frequency and how to apply it. You might notice that some Palm trees particularly the I´lla Do´r. Where they have brown pipes running up the side of the tree, then around the crown of the palm, this is for the injection of said chemical (insecticide).I am also looking into the cost and where to buy the insecticide. But it has not been proven whether this treatment is actually effective. Will update as soon as I have more info.

 

[Sparky]

Read this in the TOTN this morning :-
Rosa Estaras, the MEP for the Balearics has asked the E.C about mechanisms for obtaining help in trying to eradicate the palm beetle that has been devastating palm trees in Mallorca, especially in Pollensa.

 

[eleanor]

This is of course good news but sad that it has taken such a long time in coming. So many trees have died due to this horrid little thing - including my 80 year old beauty!

Lets hope they do decide to do something and we can now go forward with confidence in planting little babies!!

 

[sws97sdg]

Just wanted to post about the Palm trees, and before anyone says anything I know it is terrible if it has happened to your tress or the trees in your area, and it could always get worst before it get s better. But before I came over I was worried that a large number of palms on the front and main areas would be dead or affected and it would look so sad compared to what it was last year, just to put peoples minds at rest a bit, it wasn't half as bad as I feared, while a number I saw were affected lots more including most on the promenade have not been yet. Some capped trees were also sprouting, so as I say terrible for the ones affected but some hope for the future, lets hope they come up with a remedy soon.

Infected tree




Promenade

 

[Sparky]

Yes of course there are still plenty of healthy trees but i am afraid i have to report that the beetles are still here....i killed one in the square on Saturday afternoon .

 

[sws97sdg]

Oh dear Sparky, I suppose there is no point in replanting until all have been killed. Any update on the chemical treatment or on the Funds being provided to help deal with this

 

[Sparky]

I haven't read any more about it recently SWS but maybe Fencer has some more info as this is his field of expertise.

 

[sws97sdg]

Anyway Sparky how did you manage to kill the bug, I heard they are very large?!!

 

[Sparky]

Haha!! very funny SWS......no i just stamped on it .

 

[Gommar Goffer]

If anyone gets out of hand or goes off topic - be afraid - be very afraid!!

 

[eleanor]

Haha!! very funny SWS......no i just stamped on it .

Hoped you stamped on it very hard Sparky! lol

 

[Sparky]

Certainly did Eleanor and i urge anyone else who sees one to do the same.

 

[lollipop]

Quite large fires over the past couple of days at llenaire where the trees have been taken once removed. Still lots there wrapped in polythene, which is apparently one of the recognised ways of destroying the lavae. Keep a good lookout for the little blighters they like to wander!!

 

[andrew711]

Lollipop. Sorry, but this is not a recognised way. In fact, the burning in open fields and the wrapping in plastic is anything but. It was for both these reasons that the town hall was due to be denounced to the Guardia's environmental protection unit. Burning in open fields causes any beetle that might be in the remains to fly off and spread itself, while plastic is easily punctured. The most effective means of disposal, and what should have been happening, is to incinerate remains in ovens.

 

[Belladonna]

MALLORCA TODAY - New trees for Puerto Pollensa
Mayor Tomeu Cifre has announced that tests will be carried out to find plants and trees that will be most suitable to replace the palms that have been devastated by the "picudo rojo" in Puerto Pollensa. It is unlikely that new palms will be planted because of the virtual impossibility of eliminating the beetle.

Meanwhile, palm-tree remains that had been left in the Llenaire area have been burned and the area tidied up, but more remains will be deposited and burned there in the future owing to the cost of transporting them to an incinerator.

 

[sunshine]

What's going to happen to all the stumps?

Is the council getting a stump removing machine in?

Please I hope so as they look dreadful. They could then plant the new trees where the old ones were

 

[Sparky]

I read in the TOTN today that the mayor has announced tests will be made to find suitable replacement plants and trees for the palm trees that have been lost to the Picudo Rojo beetles.

 

[sws97sdg]

Couple of pics showing the capped palms from our balcony last trip, encouraging signs of life from one of them, even flowers appearing.

 

[Sparky]

The town hall has begun destroying 80 palms which have not been affected by the beetle that has decimated so many trees . Even trees on private land that has been affected will have to be destroyed and owners will have 10 days from being issued with an order, to comply or they will be fined up to 2,500€ and be denounced to the environment ministry .
This was posted on their website today http://www.ajpollenca.net/noticies/...lmeres-afectades-pel-becut-vermell&cIte=41151.

 

[Sparky]

Reading the "Ultima Hora" this morning and it reports this problem is also affecting the trees in Palma, it says that last year 108 trees were infected and so far this year another 173 have been attacked by the "Red palm weevil" .