It is common to hear expressions such as: “Washingtonia palms are not attacked by Red Palm Weevil” or “They are not sensitive to the plague” or the most worrisome, “I will remove the palm trees I have and plant Washingtonias.” Nothing is further from reality and the pictures shown below prove it. It is true that the preference of the red palm weevil female when laying the eggs is clear in favor of canariensis and dactiliferas palms, but it is no less true that Washingtonia suffers red palm weevil attacks that cause them to die, and as many of the attacks are basal or lateral, they are responsible for accidents similar to those of dactiliferas palms.
Do not remove the palm trees you have to replace them by Washingtonias, instead, inspect them frequently and treat them to avoid their infestation because it is much more expensive to eliminate a dead palm tree (Cutting, truck crane, transportation to landfill, etc.), than to take care of it and treat it.
Damage has been recorded in washingtonias sp., Trachycarpus, Chamaerop, Coconut trees, etc. In different ways according to the species. In the picture section, you can see some examples of attacks on these species.
Red palm weevil larvae eat in the meristematic area causing the detachment of the secondary leaves, leaving the central plume standing up.
Another characteristic of this species are the lateral attacks. The red palm weevil female lays the eggs in the cracks and especially among the remains of the base of the leaves. An easy way to detect a palm tree with a red palm weevil attack is to hit the stipe that sounds hollow, although this symptom occurs in the final phase, almost before falling and dying.
Another characteristic of this species are the basal attacks. The red palm weevil female lays the eggs in the cracks and especially among the remains of the base of the leaves. An easy way to detect a palm tree with a red palm weevil attack is to hit the stipe that sounds hollow, although this symptom occurs in the final phase, almost before falling and dying.
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