Endoterapia Vegetal
//, Ornamental/Palm borer moth

Palm borer moth

Palm borer moth2019-02-28T14:18:46+00:00

Project Description

Fig. a – Paysandisia archon caterpillar.
Fig. b – Paysandisia archon caterpillar.
Fig. c - Symptoms of an attack by P.archon on a specimen of Trachycarpus fortunei.
Fig. d – Example of Paysandisia affecting a specimen of P. canariensis in which the galleries made by the caterpillars can be observed.
Lepidopteran insect of the Castniidae family, originating in a border region between Argentina and Uruguay. As a consequence of the import of palm trees from South America, it was introduced in Europe and is currently found in various parts of the Mediterranean coastline (France, Italy, Catalonia, Valencia, and Mallorca, among others).

The adults are diurnal moths; the males have a wingspan of around 8 cm, 9-10 cm for females, with a clear sexual dimorphism.

The eggs are spindle-shaped, similar to a tiny grain of rice, pink when they are laid, and turning white just before the caterpillar is born.

The caterpillars (Fig. a) are pink and have long layers of silk at birth; however, after the first shedding, they turn whiter and the silk becomes shorter.

The chrysalis (Fig. b) is reddish-brown and is formed within a cocoon woven by the caterpillar itself.

It spends the winter in the form of a caterpillar and during this period we can find almost all larval stages. Caterpillars born in June-July originate the adult usually in May-June of the following year; they have a full annual cycle of 11-12 months. Some caterpillars are born in September-October, but they originate the adult in May-June of the second year; they have a complete cycle almost every two years (20-22 months).

The eggs are laid by the female, one by one, between the fibres of the base of the leaves of the crown of the palm tree, 1-2 cm from the outside. They hatch within 14 to 21 days. When it is born, the caterpillar perforates towards the inside of the palm tree. Once inside, it starts to make galleries, and does not normally leave the plant until it reaches the adult instar.

In the final stage of its development, the caterpillar opens a gallery with an exit to the outside that connects with another interior chamber where the cocoon will be woven. After 2-3 months, the adult butterfly emerges.

Detecting the attack is not always easy. The most noticeable symptoms are leaf perforations, which in palmate-leaved palms are usually arranged in a circular fashion, affecting several of their leaflets (Fig. c). However, in the pinnate-leaved palms we can see disperse perforations or bites.

We cannot guarantee that the attack is by P. archon if we cannot detect other indicators such as: typical sawdust and excrement at the base of the crown leaves, external areas of the trunk or at the base of the trunk, as well as the presence of cocoons, eggs or exuviae (remains after moulting) of chrysalides.

To carry out preventive treatments using plant endotherapy (ENDOterapia Vegetal®). At least in the first year of treatment, we recommend two applications, because caterpillars can be found inside the palm tree at any time of the year. In the second year of treatment, one annual treatment in spring will suffice to protect the palm tree from the first possible attacks resulting from the births of the first clutches.

Project Details

Common name:
PALM BORER MOTH.
Scientific name:
Paysandisia archon.
Affected plants:
Mainly Trachycarpus fortunei and Chamaerops humilis, although it can also affect species of the genus Brahea, Butia, Livistona, Phoenix, Sabal, Syagrus, Trithrinax and Washingtonia.

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ENDOterapia Vegetal
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Feder
ENDOterapia Vegetal, S.L. en el marco del Programa ICEX Next, ha contado con el apoyo de ICEX y con la cofinanciación de fondo europeo FEDER. La finalidad de esta apoyo es contribuir al desarrollo internacional de la empresa y de su entorno.