Emergency plan to control palm weevil's spread

The government is taking emergency measures to contain the ravages of the red palm weevil, and has banned the transportation of palms to Gozo, which so far remains intact.

The insect is wreaking havoc on palm trees in an area stretching between Qormi and St Paul's Bay.

The Plant Health Department yesterday held a press conference to explain the action it is taking.

Department director Marika Gatt said the department has been monitoring the situation since the weevil first reared its ugly head in Spain two years ago, and since dispersed across Europe.

Discussions at EU level started in June last year and a contingency and emergency plan to control and eradicate the pest was established by the department, which it is now implementing.

The insect was first discovered in Wardija in July and the department immediately established that imported palms had to remain in quarantine for 120 days.

The weevil is two to five centimetres long, has a long beak bent to one side, and is red in colour, similar to that of rust, with black spots. It can fly unaided as far as one kilometre.

Malta imports palms mainly from Italy and Egypt. The department believes the insect entered the island through larvae nestled inside the trunk.

Ms Gatt explained that it was difficult to diagnose an infested tree during the early stages. However, in an advanced state of infection one could note a brown condensed liquid and flakes and pieces of fibre protruding from small holes in the bark.

A particular smell also emanates from the tree while the leaves will start to turn yellow and shrivel. The red weevil attacks palms only.

"Eradicating it completely is extremely difficult and experiments are being held around the world on how this can be done.

"What we can do is contain the insect's movements as much as possible," she said.

Infected palms were being covered in plastic sheets to prevent the red palm weevil from spreading further.

The department has also introduced an integrated control management strategy, which involves intensive monitoring and experiments, such as pheromone traps, and improved detection.

Any suspected infestations should be reported immediately to the department on 2339 7203/2143 0248 or send an e-mail to plantquarantine@gov.mt.