1. Integrated Management of Palm Pests
Tom Weissling
Assistant Professor of Entomology
University of Florida
Fort Lauderdale Research & Education Center

2. Effective design and implementation involves knowledge and planning
What is Integrated Pest Management?
"Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable
approach to managing pests by combining biological,
cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that
minimizes economic, health and environmental risks."
From: Anonymous Integrated Pest Management Practices in 1991 Fruits and
Nuts, RTD Updates: Pest Management, USDA-ERS, 8pp.
Effective design and implementation involves
knowledge and planning

3. Biology and Identification of Pests and Beneficials
Preventative
Practices
Evaluation &
Follow-up
IPM
Program
Make Action
Decision
Monitor Pest
Populations
Action Threshold

4. Preventing Pest Problems/Outbreaks
When Installing Palms
1. When buying, select only palms that are
healthy and free of pests
Many pest problems in managed areas are
attributed to importation via infested plant
material

5. Preventing Pest Problems/Outbreaks
When Installing Palms
2. Avoid species that
typically have pest
problems
Especially palms
susceptible to Lethal
Yellowing
Consider nutritional
requirements

6. Preventing Pest Problems/Outbreaks
When Installing Palms
3. Select native palms or
palms well adapted to
our climate

7. Preventing Pest Problems/Outbreaks
When Installing Palms
4. Site selection
Species planted in “off-site” locations may
experience stress leading to attack by pest
organisms
In addition, stressed trees may be slow to
recover from pest damage

8. Preventing Pest Problems/Outbreaks
When Installing Palms
5. Site Preparation/Planting
Choose a well-drained location
Do not plant too deep
Support after installation
NAILS

9. Preventing Pest Problems/Outbreaks
In Established Palms
1. Proper cultural care
a. Establish a fertilization program
4 times per year
with a 100% slow
release product
2N-1P-3K-1Mg
plus micro-
nutrients at 1.5 lbs
per 100 ft2

10. Preventing Pest Problems/Outbreaks
In Established Palms
1. Proper cultural care
b. Pruning
In the Canary Island
date palm, pruning
can create wounds
that attract palmetto
and silky cane weevils

11. Preventing Pest Problems/Outbreaks
In Established Palms
2) Habitat modification
plant several plant species
of differing canopy heights
in an area
This can help to enhance
populations of predators
and parasitoids

12. Pay close attention to the symptoms observed:
Don’t be too quick to blame the bugs!
May be a nutritional problem or a disease

13. Decision Making (Action Thresholds)
Most pests often perceived as “Zero Tolerance”
Categories to consider:
1. Pest is lethal to the palm
2. Pest is serious but manageable
3. Pest causes only aesthetic damage

14. “Lethal”
palm pests

15. The Palmetto Weevil, Rhynchophorus cruentatus
Native to Florida
Host range:
- Cabbage palmetto (Sabal palmetto)
- Saw palmetto (Serrenoa repens)
- Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera)
- Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis)
- P. dactylifera
- Pritchardia spp.
- Washingtonia spp.
- Roystonea spp.
- Latania spp.
- Caryota spp.

16. Installed Sabal Palm
exhibiting “pop
necking”

17. Palmetto Weevil Grubs in Crown

18. Palmetto Weevil Adults

19. In the past, palmetto weevils attacked only
sabals and saw palmetto that were dying from
some other problem.
They were considered a secondary pest
They are now considered, along with the
silky cane weevil, to be primary pests of
Canary Island date palms
Unfortunately, infestations in apparently
healthy date palms is lethal

20. Decline of Canary Island date palms infested
with the palmetto weevil
Total loss of more than 500 date palms within
a year
Some showed signs of previous cane weevil
infestation
Palms were about 10 years old

28. Decline can be rapid (a few months)
Be careful not to confuse with lethal yellowing
Tear palm apart and look for grubs, pupae, adults,
feeding damage

29. Treatment ineffective:
Infested palms should be removed and destroyed
as soon as possible
Future:
Mass trapping
Prophylactic insecticide applications

30. Some “serious”
palm pests

31. Banana Moth:
Serious but can be treated
with some insecticides and
nematodes

32. Royal Palm Bug:
Serious but can be treated
with systemic insecticide
(imidacloprid)

33. Silky Cane Weevil:
Serious but can be treated
with some insecticides and
nematodes if caught early

34. Aesthetic Problems: Usually not causing injury to plant
or stressing it
Problem is usually short-lived and
disappears on its own or natural enemies
take care of problem
Comes down to how much you can stand

37. www.ftld.ufl.edu A downloadable slide show located at the
University of Florida’s, Fort Lauderdale
Research and Education Center Web Site:
Follow entomology or horticulture links

38. Authors: Tom Weissling, Alan M. Meerow, University of Florida
Photos: University of Florida
Unless otherwise credited
Entomology And Nematology Department &
Environmental Horticulture Department,
Copyright University of Florida 2000
For more detailed information see the Featured
Creatures WWW site at