HOUSEHOLDERS experiencing difficulties with the Sago Palm Scale are being urged to be patient and allow the natural enemies, which are being released by the Entomology Unit to curb its spread, to do their work.

This request has come from entomologist Ian Gibbs, who said the department had been inundated with calls from householders complaining that their palms hadn't improved, although the tiny parasitic wasps or predatory beetles had been released.

Pointing out that biological control was often a slow process, he added: "You cannot release these beetles or wasps on a tree and expect it to be free of the pests within a few days – that's impossible!"

He indicated, however, that the department had been "seeing very good results within four-to-six-month periods".

He said the key to the programme was for people to do nothing with the palms after the release of the natural enemies.

"Sure, you can water your tree – you must provide water to keep it alive – but otherwise leave them and let the beetles do their job," he implored.

He added that officers would be visiting affected properties "every few weeks" to monitor the effectiveness of the beetle.

Gibbs said that since June last year, his department had been harvesting, collecting and releasing beetles again across eight parishes to curb the spread of this pest.

People who suspect that they may be affected by this pest are being asked to contact the Entomology Unit at 428-4150 immediately, or bring a sample to the lab at Graeme Hall, Christ Church, for testing. (BGIS)