What Problems Can Coconut Trees Bring?

Coconut trees are celebrated in many cultures for the food source that they provide, as well as the abundance of shade they provide to sun-drenched geographical locations. However, coconut trees can also bring a wealth of problems.

A coconut tree.

Background

Coconut trees grow in warm climates, often in sandy soil. Known for their long, tall trunks, the trees can grow upwards of 50 to 80 feet. Fruit (known simply as "coconuts") grows at the base of the palm-like leaves and one tree can produce up to 50 coconuts.

Lethal Yellowing

A planthopper insect (pictured) is the cause of lethal yellowing.

Lethal yellowing (LY) is a bacterial disease that decreases fruit growth and causes flower necrosis in the tree, as well as discoloration in the leaves and death of the tree's buds. LY is caused by the planthopper insect.

Moth Attraction

The coconut fruit on a coconut tree is often used as a food source by the larvae of moths. Moths are often deemed a nuisance by humans and can attract bats, which also bother or frighten many people.

Brontispa Longissima

Brontispa longissima, more commonly known as the coconut leaf beetle, feeds on the leaves of coconut trees. The insect's feasting causes decay and dries out the tree, preventing the growth of the coconut fruit. Over time, an entire adult tree can be killed by the beetle.

Falling Coconuts

A coconut fruit falls from a tree and precariously close to a human onlooker.

Humans or animals who stray underneath coconut trees run the risk of being hit by the fruit when it falls from the top of the tree, though this is rare. Due to the height of most coconut trees and the hard shell that surrounds the fruit, a living creature could be injured if struck.

References

• Palm Diseases
• Coconut Palm
• Coconut leaf beetles