The Ministry of Agriculture of the Junta de Andalucía has officially declared the Euwallacea fornicatus pest, known as the ambrosia beetle, a pest affecting the region, as it has become one of the main dangers faced by avocado producers on the Tropical Coast of Granada.
According to the Junta de Andalucía's Official Journal, authorities established the infested area in three plots of land, corresponding to the entire town of Motril and two neighboring farms (one of which is not cultivated), and "a one-kilometer buffer zone" around it. This map, however, is not fixed and will be updated as the situation evolves.
Mango and cherimoya crops are also sensitive to this beetle. This pest's main focus and entry route in the Costa Tropical are still unknown.
Given this situation, the Ministry of Agriculture has decided to apply a series of mandatory phytosanitary measures, starting with the obligation for the owners of the affected areas to carry out "exhaustive surveys" to determine the presence of the organism, at least every month, and communicate the result to the competent authorities. Once the presence of Euwallacea fornicatus is confirmed, producers must immediately prune the plants' primary branches (the one that emerges from the trunk or neck at ground level) "from its basal insertion, sealing the wound with healing paste." Moreover, all the trees or bushes in which the beetle's presence is "suspected or confirmed" in a larger part of their crown "must be uprooted and destroyed within 20 days" of notification by the Territorial Delegation.
According to the Ministry's instructions, the affected plant remains shall be destroyed immediately and preferably by shredding. The remains must then be composted, solarized, burned, or buried with quicklime at a depth of more than 50 centimeters.
Moreover, if the beetle's presence is confirmed or suspected, the affected trees must be "immediately isolated" to prevent the pest from spreading. In addition, the phytosanitary passport of the species susceptible to the pest will be withdrawn and not be returned until eradication is certified.
According to sources familiar with the situation, producers are waiting for the establishment of the compensation to be paid to those who are forced to prune or uproot trees on affected plots of land.
Source: granadahoy.com