Red Palm Weevil Management -- video from Saudi Arabia

[DoomsDave]

Howdyall:

This linked youtube vid speaks for itself.

[AggiePalms]

That is not a pretty sight...Not at all. Makes even an all-organic palm person like me think about inorganic chemical remedies.

[DoomsDave]

Buon Giorno!

From Palermo, Sicily . . .

CLICK HERE

[paulgila]

such pleasant music for something that is so disturbing. not sure how to react to that.

[DoomsDave]

Arrivaderci, Roma!

Don't stick nothing in my stoma . . . .

[Alberto]

Imagine the tragedy this happening all over California!!! And the $$$$$$$$ this will cost!!!!!!

[palmpuppy]

such pleasant music for something that is so disturbing. not sure how to react to that.

Same here. My psyche is all out of sink now.

Here's one with a much more appropriate jingle (sounds sort of buggy). I thought the purpose of the microwave was to save the tree but here, it is used to kill the vermin before removal of the tree.

Jackie

[Moose]

<<<<<>>>>>

[DoomsDave]

Well, at least those fellas are using good old American Stihl chainsaws . . . .

[Ferry]

Red palm weevil management in Middle east countries has been generally disastrous. Various of the main reasons, very similar in Europe, have been: to hide the information as long as possible; to do little or no efforts to involve the farmers; in many places to continue to import palms from infested countries; periodic claim from new "experts" that they have found the definitive miraculous treatments.

Palms importation in the United Arab Emirates has been prohibited more than 10 years after the first detection of infested palms. In Europe, palms importation till now has not been prohibited. In Egypt, it has been forbidden during nearly ten years to spread public information on the pest and, consequently, the pest has been scatttered by palms trade in less than 7 years in nearly all the egyptian oasis. For now 5 years, each six months in Europe, a lab, private or public, that does not know nothing of the palms and of the pest claims that it has found the product or the treatment that is 100% efficient against the RPW.

The only country where a model management has been implemented has been Israel where in less than two years the RPW has been controlled in the date palm groves. Unfortunately,RPW has been found two years ago in an other region and another context, in urban areas and on Phoenix canariensis and it seems that the same mistakes that have been so disastrous in Europe are reproduced in this new context.

The bad management of red palm weevil nearly everywhere needs to be studied to understand why so evident mistakes have beeen done and repeated in so many places. European Commission as well as France have understood recently that RPW case constitutes a very useful case to improve phytosanitary policy and regulation. A photo of the RPW weevil has been placed on the first page of the EC web site on the European Review of the Common Plant Health Regime.

Meanwhile, we have to save our palms and in the case of Laguna beach to stop rapidly the pest dispersal and to erradicate it quickly. Integrated Strategy based on the experience acquired in Europe will allow to avoid in California the repetition of mistakes that have been so catastrophic in Europe.

best regards.

Michel Ferry

[White North Mike]

wow!! Sounds Like a catastrophe occurring over there!! Why on Earth would it be forbidden in Egypt, or anywhere to spread information on controlling, and or erradicating a pest as harmful as this Red palm Weevil?? Are there any natural predators that are generally otherwise benign ?

[Kostas]

Cause it would hurt the export plant trade of Egypt. Yeah, one of those selfish,near sighted things...Greece used to import Egypt grown P. canariensis by the hundreds as they were 1/3 the price...And of course the weevils came along...

[Phoenikakias]

Cause it would hurt the export plant trade of Egypt. Yeah, one of those selfish,near sighted things...Greece used to import Egypt grown P. canariensis by the hundreds as they were 1/3 the price...And of course the weevils came along...

Egypt did the best concerning own interest, but what about the European Union? Has it done the same to protect THE LEGITIMATE interest of some of its members? In such cases I would expect that such interest concerning public health (of humans, plants and animals) and security in some of its country members will prevail over other financial interest of other members and former will be regarded as GENERAL INTEREST of the whole EU in a case of conflict of interests, otherwise some members will only feel exploited! In the very specific case I would expect further that the EU would have suspended free trade agreement of trade with Egypt regarding palms, until transparency in information about rpw gets restored and/or EU officials get involved with inspection in situ of Egyptian nurseries and palm groves.

[White North Mike]

Man!! What a drag, That Microwave treatment looks effective, But do the Weevil's infest sub ground level parts of the trees? and Sadly it looks as if they have to kill the tree's anyway!!

Hope the little buggers aren't cold tolerant!!

[DoomsDave]

Cause it would hurt the export plant trade of Egypt. Yeah, one of those selfish,near sighted things...Greece used to import Egypt grown P. canariensis by the hundreds as they were 1/3 the price...And of course the weevils came along...

Egypt did the best concerning own interest, but what about the European Union? Has it done the same to protect THE LEGITIMATE interest of some of its members? In such cases I would expect that such interest concerning public health (of humans, plants and animals) and security in some of its country members will prevail over other financial interest of other members and former will be regarded as GENERAL INTEREST of the whole EU in a case of conflict of interests, otherwise some members will only feel exploited! In the very specific case I would expect further that the EU would have suspended free trade agreement of trade with Egypt regarding palms, until transparency in information about rpw gets restored and/or EU officials get involved with inspection in situ of Egyptian nurseries and palm groves.

Not a bad idea for the U.S., either.

[White North Mike]

I agree, Any country for that matter...If they've been found in parts of Europe, How tolerant are they to the cold??

[DoomsDave]

Mike:

They've been found all over southern Europe which can get cold. They've devastated CIDPs in the south of France, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy. There's a few YouTube videos of ancient now dead CIDPs being cut down.

It was a huge, huge disaster.

We had an infestation in Southern California a few years ago, but it was stopped. However, it was in a place, Laguna Beach, that was kind of an "island" of palms in the natural vegetation, which made it harder for them to spread.

I have little doubt they will find their way here again. If it's in a place like East LA, want my mommy.

[Kostas]

They are at least as cold tolerant as Phoenix canariensis. They overwinter inside the palm and in partially rotting tissues which keep them warmer anyway.

Dave,slight correction,it wasn't a huge,huge disaster,it still is......and will be for many years if things continue going the way they are,with people not caring much and information on proper treatments scarce and hard to find by the people handling people's yards(cause they are ignorant and don't care....and trust the low effectiveness chemicals too much).

Microwave treatment is a joke. It works on the weevils but is harsh on the palms and does nothing to protect against reinfection. Its not used on anything other than large Phoenix out of fear of damage on the palms. The palms steam after the treatment and feel too hot to the touch,can burn you.

[DoomsDave]

Okay, IS STILL a huge disaster.

[Kostas]

Ok, what are WE(IPS) gonna do about it?

Probably not much we can do but an information center on the weevils and treatments may be worthwhile addition to palms.org

[White North Mike]

Thanks for the reply Doomsdave!! Wow !! So do these little blighter's only infest Palms? I think that Forums such as this are very important to helping prevent their spread just by information spreading to people who do care, I don't really think there is any danger of them spreading up to these parts... Too cold in the Winter, However we have a similar problem here in Ontario with the Asian Emerald Ash Borer, They have become well established here and are wreaking Havoc in our Ash Tree's all over the Greater Toronto Area, They seem quite able to withstand our Winters, Local Municipalities are treating trees, but for many it's too late.