Larvae infested tree falls in Toti
Hans Nell, who lives in a nearby complex, said the tree had showed signs it was going to fall as it had started to hang too low
A HISTORIC red milkwood tree fell on the promenade in Amanzimtoti on Monday, September 20, obstructing the way and almost damaging the fence of a nearby complex.
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Luckily no one was in its path at the time it fell behind Waterberg flats around midday. Hans Nell, who lives in the complex, said the tree had showed signs it was going to fall as it had started to hang too low.
“It was not even particularly windy and my wife and I heard a loud noise as it fell. Looking at its size, somebody could have been killed had they been at this spot at the wrong time,” said Nell.
Upon closer inspection, the tree was infested with borer beetle larvae and was hollow inside as the insects had consumed most of the inner trunk at the base, leaving it top-heavy and causing it to topple over. Adele Jolliffe of the Illovo Nursery said these trees are indigenous and that this specific type of borers seem to only attack red milkwood trees. eThekwini Municipality was notified and removed the tree the following day.
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