Palm-Killing Borer Root Beetles
Within the last few months we have noticed that some of our thriving palms tree have suddenly died for no apparent reason. We initially blamed it on the ants, since we found a large ant pile around the base of one of the palms that died, but then we kept losing palm after palm and started to notice holes dug near the base of a lot of our palm trees. I initially figured they were dug by lizards or maybe even tarantulas so I just left them alone, but we have finally found the culprit of the palm tree murders and they are the ones making those holes!
Root Borer Beetles!
This is what is left of the beetle that Stefan pulled out of the hole:
And here is a picture of a live Root Borer Beetle:
And here is how those little bastards get into the tree’s roots for a feast that will end up killing the tree:
I read up on Root Borer Beetles on the internet and they said that there is not a whole lot you can do about it, because once you start to notice that the tree is dieing, the damage has already been done and the tree will most likely die. Stefan tried to flood them out of their holes by sticking the hose down there and filling the hole with water then backfilling them with dirt, but the next day, the holes reappeared. Obviously the Root Borers thought that Stefan’s water treatment was refreshing, so I decided to get down and dirty! I sprayed inside the hole with roach killer and then filled it in with dirt. It seems to have worked because that hole did not get re-dug.
So if you are noticing palm trees around your property suddenly dieing, check around the base. If you see some large holes, about 1 – 2 inches in diameter, you’ve got root borer beetles eating your palms roots. So far, they have only been eating the palms, but we’ve lost at least 6 already.
Tags: bad bugs, beetles, palm killer, palm trees, root borer
August 15th, 2011 at 6:18 am
There are systemic insecticides that will take-em out but they are nasty and with the way it rains and with the kidlet you don’t want to go there. I would try this – when you replant wait a bit for eggs to hatch and beetles to migrate away from the area (if you plant in the same spot). Take a huge (cheap) plastic pot or half a rain barrel and take out the bottom. staple aluminum screen where the bottom was and bury it with part of the lip above ground. Backfill with dirt and plant the palm inside. There is a product called sticky feet or something (used for beetles around rhodededrons and shrubs) you can put around the lip or petroleum jelly. The beetles won’t get into the soil around the palm (they’ll get stuck scaling the wall), can’t eat through the plastic or aluminum and the roots of the palm will grow through the bottom. When the palm is old enough and has a good root system it would take a big infestation to kill it. The “collar” also protects the trunk from the trimmer, mower, chickens and erosion. You may want to try that! There is a place on 2 with $5 palms sometimes (xmas and not sure what the other is) – Caribbean Nursery. Hide the plasic with a circle of paving blocks set out from the plastic so the beetles can’t use them to hop over the barrier. Oh, tanglefoot is the sticky stuff. This method helped with root weevils in WA.
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August 17th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Katrina – Good advice for sure. We just plant SO many trees that I’m hoping we can keep an eye out and kill the little bastards without having to take all of the extra steps of pre-bugproofing. Hopefully now that we know what to look for, we can get them before they kill the palms!
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August 18th, 2011 at 9:03 am
Could it be this: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/aug/16/newfound-weevil-threatens-palms-county/ Do we need to consult Aunt Tracy that deals with things like this for SD County?
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August 18th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
I’m pretty sure it’s a root boring beetle. I don’t think the weevils attack at the root. I thought about emailing Tracy, but figured I would see if our ghetto solution works first.
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August 20th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
We just lost our front yard tree here in Colorado to wood borers. It was fast, and nothing we could do really, because they lay in hiding until they are in the their last stages and pop their little heads out to fly away. By then they have done their damage on the inside of the tree. I wish you guys good luck!!
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