A moth virulently attacked the Palmeral of Elche.

This insect of Argentine origin has forced the felling of more than one hundred specimens.

The Paysandisia Archon, a moth native to Argentina, has been established in part of the Palmeral of Elche (Alicante) and has forced around a hundred palm trees to be cut down in the last two years in the urban area.

The insect joins the red weevil plague that affects the Palmeral, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 2000. The Councilor for Parks and Gardens of the Elche City Council, Antonio Garcia, has stated that the Generalitat Valenciana will be asked to articulate measures aimed at combating the new plague that affects the Elche palm grove, the largest in Europe.

“We have proposed to the Department the need to act immediately because what we cannot do is a plan to fight against the weevil only and within four years have the Paysandisia Archon throughout the Palmeral of Elche”, Antonio García stated.

The councilor responsible for the maintenance of the Palmeral has explained that Paysandisia Archon is an insect that is easier to detect on palm trees than the red weevil., as well as it is easier to treat phytosanitally, although he added that today The biggest drawback to fighting against its larvae and adult specimens is that there is no authorization. to be able to use in parks and gardens the products that have been shown to be effective against the insect.

Paysandisia Archon preferably attacks a type of palm tree called Trachycarpus that is grown in nurseries in Elche and whose production is mainly aimed at export., yes ok It is an insect that also feeds on the date palm tree.

It is an insect native to Argentina of which There is evidence that he entered Spain through the Community of Catalonia, spreading throughout the whole of the Spanish Levante.