Palm trees threatened by tiny beetle

EVIDENCE of the palm tree killing beetle, known locally as escarabat becut vermell has been found in four places in the Migjorn area on Majorca.
The Balearic Ministry for Agriculture has located the sites where these insects are now living.
These sites are located in: the Plaza de las Palmeras in Sa Rapita, in Campos, the Plaza de Sant Miquel de Calonge and the Maria Isabel park in Calo del Pou at Cala D'Or, both in Santanyi, and the Plaza de España in Felanitx. Technicians from the Balearic Ministry of Agriculture have had to cut down some of the palm trees in these places.
The first outbreak of these insects found on Majorca was located in Sa Rapita a few months ago.
The beetles attacked some of the palm trees in this coastal area, causing them to die. The Ministry of Agriculture then brought in urgent measures to eradicate this outbreak of these pests. First, they burned the affected trees and then they established a zone of five kilometres diameter where an intensive watch was kept for more of these insects. But now they have found three more sites where these beetles are active and have taken the same measures to eradicate them.
In addition to these measures, another measure has been brought in, a ministry spokesman said.
From now on, all people who bring palm trees into Majorca must communicate this to the Balearic Ministry for Agriculture in writing.
Sources from the vegetation health department spoke of the danger of this plague of these insects and called for the collaboration of all citizens in eradicating these pests.