Some 600 infected palm trees were stopped from entering the island last year as the authorities clamped down on the pests bent on destroying the local palm population.

The palm trees, all of which were infected with red palm weevils, were identified by the Plant Health Department in 11 seizures.

“We are working hard to try and stop these weevils from destroying our remaining palm trees. They have become an integral part of the plants associated with Malta,” a department spokesman said when contacted.

Figures seen by this newspaper show that about 4,500 palm trees have fallen victim to the red palm weevil since the pest first entered Malta in 2007.

Five of the 12 palm trees which surrounded the Manwel Dimech monument, opposite Valletta’s Auberge de Castille, were among the most recent ‘high profile’ victims. The trees, uprooted to make way for the Castille Square refurbishment, were burnt after tests concluded they too had become infected by the pest.

Red palm weevils spend most of their lives inside palm trees, boring holes along the trunk, hollowing it out until it dies

Scientifically known as Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, red palm weevils spend most of their lives inside palm trees, boring holes along the trunk, hollowing it out until the host plant dies.

Believed to have spread from tropical Asia, to Africa and eventually into Europe via plant imports, the pests are widely attributed to a drastic global decrease in palm trees. The department figures show that last year at least 450 palm trees were lost to the pest.

To reduce this, the spokesman said the department sent out 186 notifications to tree owners last year, urging them to remove infected trees before the pests spread.

The department also sent out 50 letters urging plant owners to treat their trees against possible infection. Three enforcement notices were served on individuals who refused to remove and destroy infected trees.