Palm Insects

Select one of the insects below to learn more and see how they effect palms.

Image of a Palm Frond with a Scale Infestation.We are fortunate indeed that, relative to most landscape plants, a well-grown palm remains fairly free of damaging insect pests. Nevertheless, certain insects will occasionally attack landscape palms in sufficient force to warrant control measures. MORE...

 

 

Recommended Reading

 

 

Scale (1.34M PDF)
Hemispherical scale on coontie. Select to view larger image. Cottony cushion scale crawlers on sooty mold-covered adults. Select to view larger image. Florida red scale. Select to view larger image. Florida wax scales along leaf veins. Select to view larger image.
Photo Credits: D.E. Short, J.L. Castner, Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida

Palmetto Weevil (1.75M PDF)
Palmetto weevil, Rhynchophorus cruentatus Fabricius, grubs. Select to view larger image. Palmetto weevil, Rhynchophorus cruentatus Fabricius, grubs feeding in palm crown. Select to view larger image. Lateral view of the palmetto weevil, Rhynchophorus cruentatus Fabricius. Select to view larger image. Cocoons of the palmetto weevil, Rhynchophorus cruentatus Fabricius. Select to view larger image.
Photo Credits: Division of Plant Industry & Robin M. Giblin-Davis, University of Florida

Silky Cane Weevil (1.75M PDF)
Color pattern of adult Metamasius hemipterus sericeus (Olivier). Select to view larger image. Larva of Metamasius hemipterus sericeus (Olivier). Select to view larger image.
Closeup of damage to spindle palm by Metamasius hemipterus sericeus (Olivier). Select to view larger image.
Damage to majesty palm by Metamasius hemipterus sericeus (Olivier). Select to view larger image.
Photo Credits: Robin M. Giblin-Davis, University of Florida

Cabbage Palm Catterpillar (0.99M PDF)
Cabbage palm caterpillar, Litoprosopus futilis (G. & R.). Select to view larger image. Cabbage palm caterpillar, Litoprosopus futilis (G. & R.), in webbed frass shelter on flower stalk of plam. Select to view larger image. Cabbage palm caterpillar, Litoprosopus futilis (G. & R.). with body parts identified. Select to view larger image. Cabbage palm caterpillar, Litoprosopus futilis (G. & R.), webbed frass shelter on bloom spike of palm. Select to view larger image.
Photo Credits: Division of Plant Industry & Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida

Royal Palm Bug (384K PDF)
Adult of the royal palm bug, Xylastodoris luteolus Barber. Select to view larger image. Royal palm bug, Xylastodoris luteolus Barber, damage to a group of royal palms. Select to view larger image. Close up of damage by the royal palm bug, Xylastodoris luteolus Barber. Select to view larger image.  
Photo Credits: J. V. DeFilippis & F.W. Howard, University of Florida

Flatid Planthopper (688K PDF)
A dense infestation of Ormenaria rufifascia (Walker), a flatid planthopper, on a palm frond. Select to view larger image. Nymph of Ormenaria rufifascia (Walker), a flatid planthopper. Select to view larger image. Adult Ormenaria rufifascia (Walker), a flatid planthopper. Select to view larger image.  
Photo Credits: F. W. Howard, University of Florida

Red Palm Mite (707K PDF)
Close up of palm damage caused by the red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst. Select to view larger image. Severe damage to palm caused by the red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst. Select to view larger image. Adult females of the red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst. Select to view larger image.  
Photo Credits: Jorge Pea & Rita Duncan, University of Florida

Coconut Mite (1.05M PDF)
A colony of Aceria guerreronis Keifer, a coconut mite. Select to view larger image. Coconuts with damage by coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer. Select to view larger image.
Early damage to a young coconut by Aceria guerreronis Keifer, a coconut mite. Note the pale triangular area. Select to view larger image.
 A Red Spicata Dwarf' coconut palm, Cocos nucifera L., with damage from Aceria guerreronis Keifer, a coconut mite. Select to view larger image.
Photo Credits: J. V. DeFilippis & F.W. Howard, University of Florida