The Department for Plant Health has issued guidelines to prevent the spread of the red palm weevil when cutting palm fronds to celebrate Palm Sunday.

The department said the Canary Palm, commonly used for Palm Sunday celebrations and Holy Week exhibitions, was one of the most susceptible species to the red palm weevil.

The Canary Palm is one of the tallest palm species, growing up to 15 metres and has long green fronds with a prickly base.

Europe is facing a plague of red palm weevils, which burrow into a palm and may quickly kill them. Besides, it can also fly from tree to tree. The department said fronds cut must be free of the red palm weevil and, according to a legal notice, the tree must be registered.

To prevent the tree from getting infected, it must be sprayed with pesticide immediately after pruning and another three consecutive times.

Fronds must also be cut as small as possible to avoid those parts that might contain red palm weevils, which normally gather around their lower parts.

Additionally, gash left in the palm tree must be covered with a pruning concoction to seal it off because it will attract the red palm weevil.

For more information call the department on 2339 7545/8007 2310 or send an e-mail to plantquarintine@gov.mt.