Pests and diseases.

More and more, it has been reported that diseases and pests that normally affect exotics are now visibly attacking native flora. Recently there has been a surge in the number of epidemics killing off trees e.g. Calophyllum inophyllum (Takamaka), Pterocarpus indica (Sandragons) and Erythina sp. (Mouroc) not to mention the white fly problem, which poses a real threat to endemic Kalbas maron.

At the botanical gardens scale insects, mealy bugs, aphids and leaf miner has been observed on Wright’s gardenia and Bwa Dir blan. The recently introduced spiral white fly has been reported living on Hypoxidai sp. (Coco maron).

On Silhouette, although the mature Kapucin trees are producing viable seeds very few saplings can be found, indicating that something is killing off the seedlings before they reach the sapling stage.