Hope for Canary Palms

Research is being carried out worldwide to find a solution to the problem of infestation of palms by weevils. At present the use of entomopathogenic nematodes is used widespread in the Mediterranean to control this pest, however, treatments are effective only for a couple of weeks and with such a number of treatments needed annually come at a very high cost. There is hope for the future. A group of biologists in Alicante have been working on the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana which infects and spreads causing death of both adults and larvae. The advantage of this treatment is that once applied the weevils transmit the spores to other weevils. Treatments would only be needed 2 or 3 times a year.