Pests & Insects

Palmetto Weevils ⎮ Palm Leaf Skeletonizers ⎮ Red Date Scale ⎮ Scale

What Happens: Stress can attract palmetto weevils, as palms under stress produce pheromones which attract the weevils. Palmetto weevils lay eggs on the petiole of the palm, chew their way to the center of the palm, and once the apical meristem is chewed, the palm cannot survive.

Symptoms: Decline of new growth, the center of the palm collapses, and sometimes the entire trunk at the base of the canopy collapses.

Susceptible Palms: Palmetto weevils are most commonly found in Canary Island Date Palms/Pineapple Palms, Bismarks, Washingtonias, and Sabals.  Stress is not necessary for palmetto weevils to attack Pineapple Palms, Bismarcks, and Washies. 

Can Be Confused With: Sometimes confused with bud rots (which is uncommon in the landscape) 

Preventative Measures: Ensure you palm is not under stress by making sure it is properly fertilized and not overpruned.  Have a pest professional apply preventative insecticides. We recommend Stayton Pest- http://www.staytonpest.com

Solution: If your palm has palmetto weevils, you would need to get it treated as soon as possible, although there is only a small chance the palm will survive once infected. However, treating it ASAP will help reduce its spread to other nearby palms. Palmetto weevils have an 84 day life cycle, so it is necessary to act fast.

Fatality: Once the palmetto weevils eat the apical meristem the palm will die and will not be able to recover. 

Fun Fact: Palmetto Weevils are North America’s largest native weevil

More Information: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN13900.pdf

What Happens: Homoledra sabalella larvae feed on the palm’s leaflets, causing damage.

Symptoms: Mid to lower fronds will have areas of necrotic tissue. The first sign of Palm Leaf Skeletonizers is Frass (poop and plant matter) on palm fronds. 

Susceptible Palms: Mainly seen in Canary Island Date Palms/Pineapple Palms, Sabal Palms, Chinese Fan Palms. 

Preventative Measures: Proper watering and regular fertilizer applications
Solution: Remove palm fronds with active insects. Limit the amount of fronds removed, especially if your palm already has nutritional deficiencies. However, if they have hatched out already it is hard to determine which fronds to cut. In that case, you could use an insecticide (such as Bacillus thuringiensis). 

Fatality: Healthy palms can survive the damage of Palm Leaf Skeletonizers

MoreInformation: UF/IFAS Palm Leaf Skeletonizers

What Happens: Phoenicoccus marcati suck the sap out of the palm fronds. 

Symptoms: Fronds will look wilted and sometimes necrotic, and will not open correctly. 

Susceptible Palms: Phoenix palms mostly affected, pygmy date palms are the most commonly affected in our area. Often found on palms in screened patios.

Can Be Confused With: Boron Deficiency

Preventative Measures: Inspect your palm once a month to look for any signs of pests. It is best to only treat palms once they have the infection, as the infection is not very serious.
Solution: Using appropriate insecticides

Fatality: Rarely fatal. If the palm has other issues, such as nutritional deficiencies, it is more likely to be fatal. 

More Information: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN81600.pdf

There are over 180 different species of scale in Florida. One of the most common types of scale we see is Red Date Scale, see the section above to learn more information about it. 

Here are some links to further information about scale

via The University of Florida IFAS Extension:

Managing Scale Insects on Ornamental Palms: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/MG/MG00500.pdf

Cycad Scale: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN25300.pdf

Boisduval Scale: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN83800.pdf

Lobate Lac Scale: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN47100.pdf

Palmetto Scale: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN83500.pdf