News
- Palm tree beetle attack |
PALM TREE BEETLE ATTACK
The common sight of palm trees on the Costa del Sol and throughout Andalucia is under severe threat. The threat comes in the form of a red beetle, Rhynchophorous Ferrugineus. Between two and five centimetres in length, red oxide in colour and ‘blessed’ with flight. The life cycle from egg to adult beetle is from three to four months and several generations can evolve before the palm tree dies. The adults then leave in order to colonise another palm and the process is repeated. The adult female can lay up to 350 eggs. These are laid in the crown of the palm tree which is tender. The larvae, which live between two and four months, will burrow there way into the main stem of the palm. They provoke fermentation as they eat through the stems destroying the flesh of the palm and its nutrition systems. The infestation is difficult to detect in its initial stages. By the time the symptoms manifest themselves the damage may be irreversible.
- Central leaves turning yellow The main type of palm trees attacked are the Date Palm (Pheonix Dactylifera) and the Canary Palm (Pheonix Canarienois). The insect orginates from Malaysia and has spread through India and the Middle East. It is believed to have arrived in Spain through the importation of Date palms from Egypt. The treatment of this plague should be preventative rather than corrective. There are two methods as follows: The first one is a heavy duty insecticide which has been especially formulated as prevention and treatment when infestation has occurred. This is applied by specialists and is administered every two months. The second is a worm culture with nutrients which attack the beetle and larvae. This is only effective once infestation has occurred. This method of treatment is trickier to administer and also only to be applied by specialists. Both methods rely on spraying and administering regularly and consistently thereafter. Although there have been various studies in Spain, we do not as yet have a total answer. All we can do is keep the plague at bay using the above methods and hope that their effectiveness is maintained. For further advice on preventative measures and evaluation of any existing damage, please contact Jim Burnett on (0034) 699566538 or alternatively via email on services@justcasares.com
IN THE LINE OF DUTY
Those of you living in Andalucia will have come across these wonders of Nature at some point or another. The Pine Processionary Caterpillar (Thaumetopoea Pityocampar), becomes obvious as a string of caterpillars joined head to tail, sometimes up to four meters long. It’s presence is also obvious as a silky round nest on the tips of pine trees. There have been a number of articles written about their life cycle and their social behaviour. I do not aim to repeat any of these. My aim is to advise those of you living in rural surroundings of my own experience.
Another word of caution; it seems they leave this irritant everywhere they tread. Items of clothing, toys and practically any objects you leave lying around can get contaminated. If you touch these, you may feel very itchy hands within twenty to thirty minutes. Fortunately the rental market concentrates outside this time but Easter holidays may coincide and unsuspecting holiday makers can have a miserable time. There are those that believe the silky filaments which become airbourne when the nest is broken are also an irritant. This would account for irritation of eyelids, face and neck which happens frequently. Lastly a further warning to pet owners, in particular dog owners: These creatures can be fatal to dogs. Contact with their tongues can cause severe swelling of the tongue and lead to asphyxiation.
Wild Boar Alert
This autumn has been very poor for them. The annual bumper crop of acorns has not materialised and as a result they have had to come down from surrounding hills in search for food. They have dug up lawns, flower beds and areas under trees in search of last year’s crop of acorns, olives and worms. This damage can be extensive and expensive to both repair and prevent. Be warned these ‘adorable’ creatures can be dangerous to you and your pets. DO NOT APPROACH!!! For advice on preventative measures and repair to any existing damage, please contact Jim Burnett on (0034) 699566538 or alternatively via email on services@justcasares.com |
These creatures first appear on the ground towards the end of February and during March. Those of you owning a villa or on holiday renting accommodation, stay well clear of these catipillars! They possess a strong irritant; you will experience skin irritation, itching and even a possible nervous reaction. Seek medical advice immediately or else it can spoil what is a beautiful time of year.
Those of you living in the ‘campo’ may have experienced wild boar damage at some stage. Normally they cause damage during our dry summers. They seek moisture from our gardens, digging up lawns and flower beds, searching for worms and grubs. They have also been know to take a dip in swimming pools leaving these full of soil and garden debris.