Red Palm Weevil

 One of our palm trees is no more....the red palm beetle/weevil has taken its toll and the other - taller of the two in our front garden - is going the same way.  

These balls of coir are what you find hidden in the tree.  The grubs and/or beetle are found in there. 

I had no idea the problem had spread to so many countries nor that so many species of palm were affected until I came across this website

Thanks to whoever in Portugal who provided this information. 

We have three palms left  in other parts of the garden and hope we can save these by regular treatment.   One of them is the first thing we planted when we  arrived 8 years ago, before we tackled the wasteland around us.