Palm moth

You may have already heard of this dreaded pest that threatens our palm trees: the palm moth, or Paysandisia archon. Native to South America, the larvae of this moth feed from inside palm trees, which can lead to major weakening and potentially the death of the tree.

This moth is characterized by cream-colored larvae, and as an adult its wingspan is impressive, with colorful wings that are distinctly marked. The larvae bore tunnels inside the trunk, weakening the palms and causing the fronds to fall. Signs of infestation include holes in the trunk and drooping fronds.

Don't panic! To combat this pest, biological methods such as the use of entomopathogenic nematodes and Bacillus thuringiensis effectively target the larvae without harming the environment. Pheromone traps are also used to reduce reproduction by capturing male moths.