The Roman pines should have had another century of life in them. But the insect has made other plans.

A Plague O’ All Your Villas!

After devastating Naples, an invasive American insect has made its way to Rome, killing the city’s classic umbrella pine trees by the thousands

By Tom Kington

Photo illustration by Chop Choppish Shop

The ancient Flaminian Way which enters northern Rome was once flanked by a procession of soaring umbrella pines topped by pillowy green canopies, making it one of the most stunning routes into the city.

However, it has become one of the most depressing ways into the city as the pine tortoise scale insect kills off the trees, turning them into threadbare collections of desiccated branches that recall a Christmas tree found in a rubbish skip in mid-January.