The Plant Health Directorate within the Veterinary and Phytosanitary Regulation Department has received several reports from various localities such as Fontana Gozo, Manikata and Armier Malta, of ailing carob trees, some of which die in a very short time.

The symptoms observed are drying leaves sometimes even to the point where the tree sheds all its leaves. Resin and round exit holes from where the beetle exits are sometimes also observed.

The beetle causing this damage has been identified through some samples which were brought to the Directorate. This beetle, Apate monachus (Fabricius 1775) is found from tropical Africa to the Mediterranean (northward up to Corsica, southern France and northern Spain).

It is established in the Neotropical region (Greater Antilles, Brazil, etc.), and was intercepted in central European countries and USA.

This beetle is one of the most notorious and troublesome forest pests in Africa. It is a beetle which can feed on a great number of different trees, with over 80 host plants used for larval development of which the following also occur in Malta: Acacia (Acacia spp.), Chinese Sumach (Ailanthus glandulosa), Almond (Amigdalis comunis), Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo),Apricot (Armeniaca vulgaris), Carob (Ceratonia siliqua), Citrus (Citrus spp.), Cypress (Cupressus sp.), Heather (Erica sp.), Coral tree (Erythrina sp.), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.), Silky oak (Grevillea sp.), Apple (Malus communis, M. domestica), Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach), Myrtle (Myrtus comunis), Olive (Olea europaea, O. europaea var. oleaster), Peach (Persica vulgaris), Date (Phoenix dactylifera), Stone Pine (Pinus pinea), Guava (Pisidium guajava), Mastic(Pistacia lentiscus), wild and cultivated Pear, bambinell (Pyrus amigdaliformis, P. dulcis, P. communis, P. communis var. piraster), Plum (P. domestica), Blackthorn (P. spinosa), Pomegranate (Punica granatum), Oak (Quercus ilex), False pepper (Schinus sp.), Tamarisk (Tamarix sp.), and Vines (Vitis spp).

Adults are nocturnal and are observed also in Malta, they are frequently collected at half light. Up to now the only method for controlling this beetle is by cutting and burning the infected parts. However it should be stressed that approval from MEPA needs to be obtained before any carob trees or any tree protected under LN 200 of 2011 can be pruned or felled.

The Plant Health Directorate is currently working to gather more information about the pest and its presence in the Malta. An action plan has been prepared to control the further spread of this pest within the Maltese Islands.

If the public notices any of the above mentioned symptoms on carobs or on any of the above mentioned trees, they are requested to immediately contact the Plant Health Directorate on 22927103 or 22927113 or by sending an email on plant.health@gov.mt.

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