“It is all about control,” palm specialist Pedro Seromenho of Naturjardins explains.
“If owners watch out for warning signs, there is nearly always the chance of full recovery. But we have to get to the tree in time...”
The Red Palm Weevil (Latin name: Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) originated in South-east Asia and Melanesia more than a century ago. It first arrived in Southern Europe in the 1980s – discovering the delights of two ubiquitous date palm species, Phoenix canariensis and Phoenix dactylifera, which it seems to prefer over all the other potential host palms.