Beetles (non singing)

[John M]

A neighour of mine has an infestation (well about 4!) of these beasties:



They fly and are about the size of a large cockroach. We have not seen them here before in seven years. Does anyone know how to eradicate them, or if they harm trees?

vmt

John M

[Enrique]

Hi John M,
Looks like a Palm Beetle..............

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/335 ... a25e46.jpg

[katy]

It is a palm beetle If they are around and there are palm trees close it is already too late. When you see them it is because they have hatched and are leaving a dead tree.We lost 2 very beautiful mature trees (see previous threads). The lazy authorities did too little too late and have lost thousands of palm trees on the coast

[Wicksey]

If the palm trees aren't too tall you'll be able to tell if it is infested as you'll hear the larvae munching away at the core of the tree and may be able to save it. Before we saw the beetles, we could hear the most strange munching, slurpy, squeaky noises coming from one of our trees where the crown is still at ground level. After shaking the leaves a bit, these palm beetles started to appear and fly around. They lay eggs (hundreds apparently) which turn into larvae which then eat their way into the heart of the tree. I called our landlord and he came along with some evil smelling (and expensive) treatment which he then applied to all of our palm trees. Within a few days the noise stopped and so far, more than a month on, there has been no deterioration of the tree itself and no more sightings.

[John M]

Thanks for your replies, I don't have any Palm Trees, but neighbouring Urbs. do........... and it looks like the beetle has arrived! One Urb. regularly sprays, and it looks like was worth it as their palms look very healthy.

I also heard from a friend near Estepona about the noise these beetles make before they depart to spread their destruction.

Can we expect a return, or reactivation, of these nasties next year?

vmt

John M