beetle infestation

[krisinmexico]

greetings all,  i have discovered beetles are having their way with several of my palms. i have lost 2  Phoenix canariensis  , and now they are in one of my bismarkias. i have attached a photo below. i am hoping i can beat this , but fear it is too late. thanks in advance for your comments, regards, kris

 

[Matt in OC]

Condolences. It looks like South American Palm Weevil: http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/56317-south-american-palm-weevil-is-invading-us/

[krisinmexico]

thanks matt, i have no words for how bummed i am about this.

[PalmatierMeg]

You can't save the palms but it's important to remove/destroy infected material before those larvae mature and spread wider.

[Palmsbro]

4 hours ago, krisinmexico said:

greetings all,  i have discovered beetles are having their way with several of my palms. i have lost 2  Phoenix canariensis  , and now they are in one of my bismarkias. i have attached a photo below. i am hoping i can beat this , but fear it is too late. thanks in advance for your comments, regards, kris

 

That's so gross. 

It's awful that those nasty bugs are eating your palms. Destroy all infected (ie, has been affected by these bugs) material as there may be eggs/more bugs in it to prevent this from spreading to your other palms.

The palms that have already been infected are most likely dead, as I have never heard of a palm live through infestations like this.

[Cindy Adair]

I am so very sorry!!!!

From what I can read these evil weevils (even has evil within the weevil name) don't care as much for more slender trunked palms?

What about those palms with underground trunks?

Do they eat any non palms?

[Steve Mac]

Oh no!  Kris you are not alone, those little buggers are nearly everywhere and are lethal.

 

[krisinmexico]

thank you all for the replies.....and sympathy! the affected tree is doomed I suppose. I am going to attempt a proactive application of fipronil (a common insecticide around here) on the unaffected trees. 

I am considering a bi-monthly spraying, and hope it will stop the spread to my favorite trees. any thoughts?  I know these spreading infestations have their seasons...and will diminish in time.... I just want that to happen soon! I will report any success and/or failure. cheers, kris

[Jamesasb]

might be a good idea

[Steve Mac]

 

Looks like you have the greater.  :)