Palms are a common sight in Malta, with the warm temperatures affecting the islands throughout most of the year being a perfect catalyst for their growth and proliferation. This said, indigenous species amount to just one - the low-growing, bushy Chamaerops humilis L., now practically extinct in the wild.
The recent invasion of the red palm weevil
Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790) has affected several of the ornamental palms of the genus
Phoenix.
The date palm,
Phoenix dactylifera L., is a historically
important North African species that may be distinguished by leaves arranged in wide silvery fronds. The picture beneath shows this species of palm affected by the
Rhynchophorus beetle.
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| Phoenix dactylifera L. affected by the red palm weevil in Santa Venera, Malta |
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| Phoenix sp. in Rome, Italy, with the one on the right showing symptoms of red palm weevil infestation |
Phoenix canariensis Chabaud is a Canarian endemic which is frequently planted around the Mediterranean, not least in Malta. Unfortunately it is also affected by the weevil in question and several stately specimens from around the island have been destroyed.
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| Phoenix canariensis Chabaud in the main road of Floriana, Malta |
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| The inhabitants of Tenerife certainly make excellent use of their endemic palm species! |
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