MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguay’s iconic palm trees are under attack by the invasive red palm weevil, a pest from Southeast Asia. First detected in 2022, the insect has already destroyed thousands of trees, including half of the 19,000 palms in the capital Montevideo. Authorities are waking up to the threat of the voracious insect […]

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguay’s iconic palm trees are under attack by the invasive red palm weevil, a pest from Southeast Asia. First detected in 2022, the insect has already destroyed thousands of trees, including half of the 19,000 palms in the capital Montevideo. Authorities are waking up to the threat of the voracious insect as fears grow that the country’s beloved palms could be wiped out. The pest threatens not only decorative Canary palms but also native species in Uruguay’s UNESCO biosphere reserve. Officials fear the infestation could spread across South America, devastating landscapes and ecosystems. By Matilde Campodónico, Nayara Batschke, Associated Press This article was originally published on Mongabay

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