Palm growing in RPW infested countries...

[Kostas]

Hello,

Living in a Rhynchophorus ferrugineus infested country and having my palm garden in one of the most devastated cities of Greece from this weevil(Pyrgos ) and seeing more and more infected palms every time i visit there,i was wondering,how those of you who live in RPW infested countries(European countries mostly but others as well...) deal with this pest and your palm gardens...Is it a serious threat for you? Do you apply any preventive measures?Is it only a serious threat for Phoenix canariensis and very rarely attacks other species? What about once all P. canariensis of the area are dead? Does it move away or does it infect other species present in the area?

Personally i will be soon applying nematodes + Biorend R(Chitosan formulation,harmless) for prevention about monthly but this really will be difficult to do for life. I like tall palms and this means i wont be able to reach them at some point and that is when i will be enjoying their looks the most...

I really look forward to hearing from you!

[John in Andalucia]

Kostas - from my own experience, RPW are likewise attracted to Washingtonias, hence they would probably infest any number of species, given the option. The mistake I made was trimming off a few leaves in early May, which put them onto the scent. My neighbour lost a Washingtonia and a Date Palm a few months ago. His Washingtonia blew over in the wind, although the trunk remained in the ground so maybe RPW had been burrowing away inside. When they cut down his Date Palm I noticed a dead, adult weevil laying on the stump a few days later. Both trees went within weeks of each other. The P. dactylifera had been losing it's crown for some time, but the Washingtonia looked as healthy as ever, but obviously the trunk had been weakened. You've probably seen this photo before, but here they both were last year:

[gyuseppe]

Constantine-kostas in southern Italy are dying all the Phoenix canariensis, is a very sad sight

so far I have only seen Phoenix canariensis die, no other species, no other species of palms die.

I use an insecticide based of >deltrametrina-tetrametrina< every month in winter, every 10 days in summer

[Kostas]

I see...We all have those happy times growing palms along with the RPW

John,

I have also seen affected Washingtonia here but they are rare...Its really annoying loosing your view and much more if these were your palms

Giuseppe,

Do you have any mature palms yourself? Has this treatment kept yours weevil free?

I am seeing people from Portugal with beautyfull gardens and was wondering how they manage to have such gardens with the weevils arround...Anyone want to shed some light on that?I am only getting more and more nervous with these buggers arround as my palms grow bigger to more ''nesting suitable'' sizes

[Rafael]

Kostas, here in Portugal, as far as I observed, the phoenix canariensis do quite well, and they are everywhere around, from all sizes.

I have never seen, so far, any evidence of that disease. They all grow in healthy way...

I am sorry if you have that problem.

[gyuseppe]

yes kostas I have 2 Phoenix canariensis of 20 years in garden, so far has worked, but until I do not know.

rafael I did not know that red weevil has not yet reached the portugal.

[Charles Wychgel]

I did not know that red weevil has not yet reached the portugal.

Don't know about North Portugal but the RPW has hit the Algarve bigtime after some unscrupulous imports of infected palms from Egypt(via Spain)

It is really painful to see all these majestic palms without their crowns....I won't post pictures, sorry

The latest report: I heard of a friend who has several affected CIDP, that a Pritchardia hillebrandii I gave him some years ago has also collapsed after a weevil infestation, his Washingtonia seems to be safe as they are very tall and cannot be pruned.

Pruning live material of CIDP( a pineapple cut) is a common practice everywhere but should be avoided or only done in mid winter when the weevil is not so active, the leaves should be cut about one meter from the trunk to minimize entry points and sap flow

After the cut a spray with a mix of insecticide and nematodes is highly recommended

It has been noted that the RPW seems to have a preference for male CIDP

Some people advocate placing feromone traps near CIDP, others claim that this will attract the weevil

Another point, the cost of regular 2 monthly spraying is about 40 Euros for each palm a lot of people that have second homes here will not bother with this, especially as it is not compulsory.

Kostas fyi the last indigenous stand of Phoenix Theophrasti in Crete is also seriously threatened

Dooms-day has arrived for the Phoenix canariensis in URP

[Kostas]

Thank you very much for your replys

Rafael,

I knew Portugal has the weevil and thats why i aksed.I am happy you dont have such problems where you live and wish you to never face them

Giuseppe,

I am very happy to hear it has worked for you till now! Not many people in such countries have 20year old Phoenix canariensis alive....I hope yours live to be huge tall palms!

Charles,

Thank you for the info! Destruction is here everywhere. I dont think we need more photos of this...We need photos of hope only i think!!!

Sorry to hear a P. hillebrandii was hit Does your friend take any preventive measures?

Its true that cut leafs make the palm scent more availiable for the insect and make entry easier.However,in Pyrgos and many areas with huge,unprunned CIPDS with many old leafs on,Rhynchophorus hits these too equally badly and easily.In Pyrgos there are mostly unprunned Phoenix canariensis but they are still dying/dead(90% of them). So just not prunning is not enough!

Seeing photos of your beautyfull garden from time to time,how do you manage with the RPW arround? Has it taken any of your palms over the years or has everything been safe?

From what i know having been to a RPW conference a few months ago,no Phoenix theophrastii stand has been infected yet.But,as Crete has the weevil,Phoenix theophrastii is surely threatened. I hope they take some strickter measures and keep them safe...

[Charles Wychgel]

I dont think we need more photos of this...We need photos of hope only i think!!!

Sorry to hear a P. hillebrandii was hit Does your friend take any preventive measures?

Seeing photos of your beautyfull garden from time to time,how do you manage with the RPW arround? Has it taken any of your palms over the years or has everything been safe?

From what i know having been to a RPW conference a few months ago,no Phoenix theophrastii stand has been infected yet.But,as Crete has the weevil,Phoenix theophrastii is surely threatened. I hope they take some strickter measures and keep them safe...

Kostas you are right about the photos they are quite depressing!

As for the Pritchardia, the theory is that Pritchardia petioles are so soft and full of water(you can practically trim the leaves with a butter knife), that makes them very attractive to the weevil....easy to enter and full of juice

RPW have not taken any palm yet in my garden (keeping my fingers crossed) but if my CIDP gets affected I will take it out and destroy it, I am not so fond of Phoenix, got stung too many times and let's face ...Ill have more space for the specials and for....CYCADS

[Zeeth]

I'm glad we don't have that here! With all the butchering of palms done by the incompetent labor force, we would be toast!

[Kostas]

Thank you very much for your replys Charles and Keith!

Charles,

I didnt know Pritchardia have such soft petioles! But i do have heard of other occasions of them being hit by borers so they do seem more succeptible maybe...Was your friend treating the Pritchardia with anything to prevent its infection from the RPW?

Good to hear all your palms have been ok for now! What preventive measures do you take for the RPW? If you dont take any measures,how come it hasnt hit any palm of yours?

Unfortunately the damn weevil has me considering doing a large portion of my main garden in Athens(when i get a property for a new main house....)with cycads too They wont replace palms but will rather be a mix so as to not leave big empty spaces if the weevils kill any palms

Keith,

I am also happy you dont have it! The least places of the world this thing lives,the better....Living only where its native would be the best for all of us!

[Charles Wychgel]

I didnt know Pritchardia have such soft petioles! But i do have heard of other occasions of them being hit by borers so they do seem more succeptible maybe...Was your friend treating the Pritchardia with anything to prevent its infection from the RPW?

Good to hear all your palms have been ok for now! What preventive measures do you take for the RPW? If you dont take any measures,how come it hasnt hit any palm of yours?

Kostas, he was giving treatments to 4 CIDP, my guess is he did not pay attention to the Prichardia , he surely was not treating it with an insecticide or nematodes.

As for preventive measures I keep my fingers crossed (does that count ? )

Joking aside, I pay attention after pruning and spray some palms that can be threatened, but I am not fond of using chemicals for fear of contaminating the ground water.

I cannot spray the whole garden as it is some 5000 sq.meter, basically I am just laying low and wait till this thing blows over.

[Matt]

I was in the Algarve recently and it was a very sad sight to see lots of beautiful CIDP's dying. Some locals were taking down an infected CIDP, they didn't know what caused it so I explained to them that RPW killed the palm and told them not to prune the palms so much. RPW has a dramatic effect on the landscape, there was a new road with in the middle about 30 P. Dactylifera's of about 8 mtr. height recently planted. Imagine how this will look if the RPW infects them.

Regards Matthijs

[Tomas]

So far I have reports that Washingtonia, Butia, Brahea, Jubaea and Chamaerops were also attacked. There may be more species, these are simply the most common here in Italy. Male plants of CIDP are surele prefered, but it doesn't imply the female are not attacked. And once all the male plants are dead?

I can hear the nematodes do not work, save your time and money. A good systemic insecticid is the best option.

Tomas