Like all wide cultivated plants , palm tree plants have problem specific to each individual species . gardener who grow palm trees should always be on the lookout for hemipterous insect , as infestations may quickly go from a elementary nuisance to a major job . Despite bug problems , palm plant are still revel across the globe , and many gardener experience that the alien , stately trees are deserving the elbow grease .

Types

Many medal bugs feed exclusively on a few different metal money of palms , so it ’s helpful to know what kind of bug are attracted to the palm tree . Some of the most common ribbon bugs include the cabbage palm caterpillar ( Litoprosopus futilis ) , a black and brown caterpillar that nibble on the lucre palm ( sabal palmetto ) ; the royal palm bug ( Xylastodoris luteolus Barber ) , a yellowish - green , oval - determine bug that feed on imperial palms ( Roystonea regia ) ; and the giant laurel wreath borer ( Dinapate wrighti ) , a large beetle that prefers Washingtonia and Phoenix varieties of medal .

Symptoms

Cabbage medal caterpillars feed on the blossom of the medal , leaving an unsightly mickle and an overall weakening of the tree . The reddish - brown larva of the cat leaves untempting stains across the tree diagram . An infestation of thripid ( Order Thysanoptera ) , which are small - winged worm , may lead to discolored or droop leaves , or even unsightly lead of black droppings . new ribbon leaves that droop and die ahead of time may be the consequence of the palmetto weevil ( Rhynchophorus cruentatus ) , a black- or ruby-red - fly insect .

Severity

Some bugs may cause the death of a palm , while others may just maim or reduce the attractiveness of a palm . A palmetto weevil infestation spells almost certain dying for a thenar , as the entire crown of the palm tree may de-escalate and break . The palm budworm ( Litoprosopus coachella ) , a pink beetle larvae that feeds on the flowers of a variety of lover laurel wreath plant , is not a cause for alarm . It can generally be removed before live on hurt is done to the tree . thripid are also a less serious job .

Treatment

Treatment vary depending on plague . Many insecticides treat germ plague of all kinds . hard infected leaves can often be pruned and destroy without major harm to the plant . Sometimes , a spray with water and soap suffices . Serious infestation like those cause by the palm tree weevil are best take aid of by destroying the tree to prevent the problem from spreading to nearby healthy trees . admit step to assure a thenar plant is sound is the upright way to keep insects from set on in the first place .

Disease

Sometimes a disease may be misidentify for an insect infestation , as they may share like symptom . An contagion of phytoplasma call " Lethal Yellowing " stimulate a yellowing of palm foliage and a weakening of the intact industrial plant that about ensures the death of the palm within six month of the first symptoms . Fusarium wilt ( Fusarium oxysproum ) is a fungus that causes leaf wilting and last . you may help to prevent disease from spreading by cleaning and desexualise palm prick such as handsaws .

References

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