Protect Your Palms from the Pest of the Month – Canary Island Palm Weevil

Insights from ISA-Certified Arborists in the San Diego Area

The Palmetto Weevil, also known as the Giant Palm Weevil or the Canary Island Date Palm Weevil used to be a minor pest that attacked only severely wounded or dying trees. Over the years, this invasive pest has begun to affect stressed nursery and transplanted palms, as well as other trees, such as the Canary Island date palms, Bismarck, and Latan palms. Coastal Tree Care’s ISA-certified arborists explain how the pest of the month – Canary Island Palm Weevil could destroy your date palms and potentially threaten California’s illustrious date-growing industry.

Learn More about the Canary Island Palm Weevil

Every species of the palm weevil is extremely dangerous for your palms. However, timely tree pest control interventions and customized tree wellness plans can help you protect the precious palms on your San Diego Area property. Here is what you should know about the Canary Island Palm Weevil:

• Size: This is the largest North American weevil, with adult weevils being ¾ to 1 ¼ inches long. They vary in color from solid black to red, with a variable back pattern and are strong and active fliers. When inactive, Giant Palm Weevils hide between the leaf bases or stems of healthy palms.

• Infestation symptoms: Giant Palm Weevils attack the tree crown and feed on the soft tissues while they reproduce. The offspring first attack the nutrient-rich crown area and then crawl towards the outer fronds, leaving holes and discoloration on the inner fronds. Usually, the first signs of infestation are a decline in younger palm fronds and drooping or collapsing of the older leaves of your Canary Island date palms. If the infestation goes unnoticed, the top of the palm could lean, bulge, or completely fall over due to the severe damage caused by aggressively feeding larvae. In many cases, the tree could go from healthy to total loss in just 45 to 60 days.

• Treatment: Even in the early stages of infestation, it may be difficult to save your palm tree through any pest control treatments. However, to minimize the damage and save the healthy palms, it is better to cut down and dispose of infected trees, before the adults emerge from the palm. 

• Preventative measures: The best way to avoid infestations is to work with a reliable tree care company that offers year-round arbor care programs. Whether it is timely treatment of transplanted palms or well-timed pruning services, skilled ISA-certified arborists could save your palms from complete ruin before they fall prey to the Canary Island Palm Weevil.

Efficient and Affordable Tree Health Care in the San Diego Area

All types of palm weevil infestations are almost always fatal for your date palms. By the time the symptoms appear, the pests have already damaged the structural integrity of your palms. Coastal Tree Care’s affordable and efficient tree services include comprehensive arbor care for all types of palms. Our ISA-certified arborists have deep knowledge of various pests and offer several proactive interventions to save your trees from complete destruction. In addition to our annual tree wellness programs, we offer specialized pruning, tree pest and disease control, and emergency tree services for all species of trees on your property.

As a Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) certified company, Coastal Tree Care provides licensed, bonded, and fully insured tree services. Our customized tree care plans have benefited numerous residential and commercial properties in and around the San Diego Area.

Hire our experienced ISA-certified arborists to protect your palms from the destructive Canary Island Palm Weevils. Call the experts at Coastal Tree Care at 619-847-4225 or contact us online to book a consultation.