Mexico Zocolos: why are the bottom of the trees painted white?

Question

on a recent trip to central Mexico, I noted that the bottom part of the lovely laurel trees trees decorating the central squares of colonial towns are uniformly painted bright white, even in the center of the squares where visibility to traffic would not be a consideration. What is the reason for this? Is it insect repellant paint? Or what?

Answer 1

No different in Acapulco - White trees................

I know for sure in theory its for control. I have my doubts on a specific insect being targeted .

Ive seen Mexican Intelligence ( or lack of it ) at work here and I doubt its effectiveness as well.   Never really see it in Florida and there trees do fine. Honduras - trees are fine. Brazil - yep, trees OK.

Answer 2

Really? It's lime and water and salt and it keeps the scorpions and african bees at bay.

Answer 3

GREAT QUESTION!

I couldn't stop laughing with some answers!

It is not white paint, it is calcium hidroxide (we call it "cal").

I'm a mexican farmer, we used to have peach trees (no more, now we are producing corn and wheat), and I know the actual reason we do that:

Well, yes, it is related with insects control (NOT nails, nails are a NOT a problem in most of México), specifically to one kind of ants that are very common here "hormigas arrieras" (Formicidae attini), which cut the leeds and take them to their home. They raise some fungi in there to eat it later. But the problem with the trees is that they can kill a tree!.

And, It does work!. It is cheaper than trying to kill the ants, it burns them 'cause it is too alcaline for them (it is even too alcaline for humans, high pH) and the ants avoid walking over it, you caould make a test. There are some other insects too that are controlled this way, but those ants are the main.

Here a link about this:

http://aupec.univalle.edu.co/informes/ma...

Answer 4

It's not paint but matrail and because they wish to.

Answer 5

i live in jalisco mexico and we do the same here.  it is white paint and it keeps the insects away.  im not quite sure it works but obviously our city workers seem to think so cuz they keep refreshing the paint.

Answer 6

its not paint, its a type of mineral but i have no idea why they do it... you know its funny i grew up seeing people paint them and i never wondered why... sorry this answer wasn't much help thought

Answer 7

its for ants... i live in texas and they used to do it at schools when i was a kid...and in some parks. they dont do it here anymore but still do in mexico.

Answer 8

Well I go often to Mexico. And the reason is for the ants not to craw and eat the leafs

Answer 9

its so animals wont eat them

Answer 10

It's calcium oxide mixed with salt and water, it prevents the trees from being eaten by snails and that kind of animals, it dries the snails before they get to the leafy part.