Palm tree bug

[frontalman]

We have a date palm in our garden in Karsiyaka which is only about 4 years old. It has outgrown more mature palm trees and has been doing very well. Sadly over the past two weeks it has deteriorated rapidly due to a bug chomping away inside the heart of the plant (we can hear it). We assume that it is the same problem bug imported into Cyprus by the mayor of Girne when he bought all those palm trees from the Middle East many years ago. Our tree is all but dead now and we will ask our gardener to dispose of the tree on Thursday. Our main concern is that he locates and destroys the bug and eradicates any possibility of the problem transferring to any other date palm trees in the area. Has anyone else encountered this? Do I have to inform the authorities? What is the best way of destroying this plant safely (obviously we can't burn it)? Will the belediye pest unit do it?

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

[wedinnorthcyprus]

Contact the belediye, they may come and remove it for you to stop the bugs from spreading.

[rogerb]

By all means try the Belediye but, when our neighbour approached Lapta Belediyesi she was told "it's nature so you cannot change it." Maybe the Forestry Dept. would be a more appropriate source of information.

[flowerfairy]

We had a beautiful palm in our front garden that was eaten by these creatures. They're red palm weavel.
You are supposed to dig up and burn the plant. Obviously in this heat, it's dodgy, in case the fire spreads.
We did register it on a website that was tracking the bug. Unfortunately, I can't remember what site it was.
Not sure if this is of much help, have a nice day,

[Owl Lady]

Google red palm Weevil, loads of info