Tiny Bug Looking To Take Out The Statuesque Palm Tree

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — They stand tall like models, pose pretty for pictures and land huge advertisement gigs, the palm tree has made a name for itself in California.

Now the Palm Weevil is jealous of all the tree's glory.

A bug, a little larger than a penny with expensive taste, is feeding on palm trees and killing them, says UC Riverside Entomologist Mark Hobble.

"Males and females will come into the top of the palm tree, hundreds feeding into the top of the palm tree and turning it into mush." Hobble said.

Hobble traveled to Mexico and found dead palms all over.

"These palms that have died are generating hundreds of weevils which are continuing to spread throughout Tijuana and flying over the border into southern San Diego county," Hobble said.

He doesn't know when the Weevil will hit Orange County, Los Angeles, or the Imperial Empire.

If you see one contact UC Riverside entomology department. Scientists are working on eradication strategy.