Re: Red Palm Weevil spotted in southern California

I just thought I might link to a topic on the International Palm Society 
Discussion Forum that is talking about the latest invasive insect threat to hit 
California, and seems to be targeting the beautiful and plentiful Phoenix 
canariensis palm in particular.  Hopefully the initial infestation is still 
confined to Orange County/Laguna Beach, but it is much more likely that this may 
already be in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties as well, and possibly into 
Mexico's West Coast. The thread gives plenty of graphic examples of what to look 
for, and apparently this insect has been devastating in Europe, but they seem to 
have it under control in the Canary Islands.

Here is the thread:

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=25539

Everyone who is concerned about preserving California's palms should become 
familiar with this insect, which may also attack Agaves and Yuccas as alternate 
hosts, so there is definite cause for worry and fast action to control its 
spread.

Just as I was beginning(last 5 years or so) to really explore designing with 
palms with potential forMediterranean Climates for my own and client's gardens, 
it seems there is real reason to go slow about using them more often...

Also, for those who are in the San Francisco Bay Area and might be interested in 
hearing a talk by me out at Annie's Annuals this Saturday at 11am on November 
13th, I will be talking about gardening for the Bay Area Garden, and the wealth 
of plants from around the world suitable for creating fall and winter interest, 
or as Annie so aptly titled it, Year Round Gorgeousity!  One can go to her web 
site and see some photos of example gardens and plants from my talk, which will 
feature more unusual plants from the Mediterranean Climates of the World, in 
combination with succulents, subtropicals from cloud forests and bromeliads for 
our local climate, which can closely resemble high elevation tropical cloud 
forests in many ways, as local specialized collections at Strybing and UC 
Berkeley Botanic Garden so ably display.


David Feix in Berkeley, California
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