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Date Published: 12/02/2024

Unpruned palm trees attacked by weevils in Orihuela Costa

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The trees lining several Cabo Roig streets haven’t been cut back in more than 2 years

Unpruned palm trees attacked by weevils in Orihuela Costa

Problems in the often neglected Orihuela Costa are moving past the purely cosmetic now and are causing a health and environmental risk. The picturesque streets of Cabo Roig, once beautifully lined with well-tended palm trees, are now strewn with brown husks as the dreaded red weevil sets in.

It’s been two years since the 7,000 or so palm trees in the area have had a proper prune and their overgrown state makes an ideal habitat for the destructive insect, which had started to jump to trees planted in residential homes in Cabo Roig. Once an infestation takes hold, it signals the beginning of the end for most plants.

The Cabo Roig and Lomas Neighbourhood Association has collected hundreds of signatures and presented them with a letter to the Orihuela City Council demanding urgent attention along the coast. The group has highlighted the “calamitous state” of the trees and has accused the council of a lack of responsibility for allowing the situation to get so out of hand.

Last October, the same group complained about the lack of pruning that led to hundreds of slippery fruit collecting under the trees, causing a serious trip hazard. This was ignored and today, thanks to the weevil, dead and dried up palm fronds have joined the dates on practically every street in Cabo Roig.

“It has been more than two years since the palm trees have been pruned in Cabo Roig, we do see better maintenance in other areas, such as Campoamor, and this is generating a huge problem due to the palm weevil, which makes me wonder how many palm trees are going to survive,” one local resident explained.

The council has actually awarded the maintenance contract to a company called ‘Ildo’, but their start date has been delayed because of problems with their corporate policy. Even while waiting for the new contractors to get off the ground, many locals have questioned their ability to handle such a big job, which covers more than 2.5 million square metres, 213 green areas and 7,000 palm trees.

In other news: New site proposed for second Orihuela Costa health centre

Image: Ayuntamiento de Orihuela

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