Any chance we can save our Canary Island Date Palm from South American Palm Weevil?

[Chubbspeterson]

I found a South American Palm Weevil under my CIDP and upon looking more closely from an elevated spot, I noticed the top was quite flat. I called a tree care company and they said that the palm is likely too far gone and that it can't be saved. There is a smaller CIDP next to it that looks healthy, so our plan is to treat both with insecticide as a preventative measure to save the smaller one and kill whatever is in the big one.

I'm not really sure how long ago the palm was attacked, but I'd guess sometime this summer. The last photo I have of it looking healthy is the "post trim" photo taken in Feb 2024, although we had them trimmed in Aug 2023.

Below are some photos showing different time periods.

We are absolutely crushed at the thought of having to cut down this palm. It was planted in the late 80s and is a real statement piece in our backyard.

Are there any other measures we can take other than flooding the crown with insecticide? Is there any chance this palm comes back after treatment or do we have to cut it down?

 

PRE TRIM SOMETIME IN EARLY 2023

 

DAY OF TRIMMING AUGUST 2023

 

POST TRIM FEB 2024

 

CURRENT STATE NOV 2024

[TropicsEnjoyer]

I’ve thankfully never had to deal with this disgraceful pest but unfortunately it seems your tree is on the verge of death if not already doomed. Hope you get some other input soon but I would try to take a look at the crown and see if there’s any growth remaining, if you can somehow find a way to get up there.

[Merlyn]

@Chubbspeterson it's hard to guess when the SAPW attacked it, the February 2024 photo looks pretty good.  Unfortunately I'd agree with your tree care company.  If the crown is collapsed that far it's probably mush inside and the growing point is dead.  I'd definitely do a crown drench of insecticide on the other CIDP, and follow up asap with a soil drench of Imadicloprid.  There's a good chance it's been attacked too, but just doesn't have any visible symptoms yet.

[SeanK]

Chainsaw the first and Drench the second. Sorry for your loss. They were both beautiful 6 months ago. 😢

[DoomsDave]

@Chubbspeterson NICE TO MEET YOU!

So sorry for the reason.

Sadly, I must completely concur with @SeanK's brutally succinct advice.

Alas.

[talkjk]

23 hours ago, DoomsDave said:

@Chubbspeterson NICE TO MEET YOU!

So sorry for the reason.

Sadly, I must completely concur with @SeanK's brutally succinct advice.

Alas.

Is chopping it done quickly the right thing to do? Or should you use it as bait and kill as many of the little bast....s as you can? If the tree is still living could you drench the crown and soak the roots with Imidacloprid thus becoming a booby trap. Or would it be too risky attracting a bunch of reprobate and take down the rest of the neighborhood? 

[DoomsDave]

1 hour ago, talkjk said:

Is chopping it done quickly the right thing to do? Or should you use it as bait and kill as many of the little bast....s as you can? If the tree is still living could you drench the crown and soak the roots with Imidacloprid thus becoming a booby trap. Or would it be too risky attracting a bunch of reprobate and take down the rest of the neighborhood? 

Good question! Maybe hit it with some i-juice and wait, but not too long. Then burn it up.

Unless and until a natural enemy to keep those things under control can be found, we're going to have a disaster, at least for CIDPs just like in the Mediterranean region.

[SeanK]

52 minutes ago, DoomsDave said:

Good question! Maybe hit it with some i-juice and wait, but not too long. Then burn it up.

Unless and until a natural enemy to keep those things under control can be found, we're going to have a disaster, at least for CIDPs just like in the Mediterranean region.

Hmm. If it were mine, it would be gone this weekend.

[maxum2610]

In my opinion this palm can be saved. A few years back I had one in far worse condition than this one in my house in Moraira Spain. The grow point was fully inclined to one side. What we did was to remove all the leaves as close to the stem as possible. Then we had them spray from the top, profusely every two weeks three or four times. The palm took a long time to recover but looks fine now. Finally I had them inject the trunc about 1.5 meters from the top. This is something that is done here a lot in Spain in the Valencia region, and in my opinion, the only thing that can save your palms long term. There’s an excellent brochure online from the Valentine community on how to take care of your canary date palms. Also, you may want to look into getting palm weevil pheromone traps. They work great in reducing the population in your back yard, and keeping them away from your palms. Don’t wait to spray the palms. Do it asap. Once the larva’s get into the grow point, it’s done.

 

[maxum2610]

Also, I noticed you had your palm trimmed in August. Never have it trimmed in a period that the rpw is active. If you must trim it, do it in January or February. Trimming your palms attracts the rpw, so if you must trim it, do it in the months that they are not active.