Considerations in Palm Pest Management Tom Weissling Assistant Professor of Entomology University of Florida Fort Lauderdale Research & Education Center

Considerations inConsiderations inPalm Pest ManagementPalm Pest Management

Tom WeisslingTom Weissling

Assistant Professor of EntomologyAssistant Professor of EntomologyUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Florida

Fort Lauderdale Research & Education CenterFort Lauderdale Research & Education Center

What is Integrated Pest Management?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. 1994 Integrated Pest Management Practices in 1991 Fruits and Nuts, RTD Updates: Pest Management, USDA-ERS, 8pp.

Effective design and implementation involvesEffective design and implementation involvesknowledge and planningknowledge and planning

Biology and IdentificationBiology and Identificationof Pests and Beneficialsof Pests and Beneficials

PreventativePreventativePracticesPractices

Monitor PestMonitor PestPopulationsPopulations

Action ThresholdAction Threshold

Make ActionMake ActionDecisionDecision

Evaluation &Evaluation &Follow-upFollow-up

IPMIPMProgramProgram

IPM requires proper identification of theIPM requires proper identification of thepest(s) and knowledge of the pest(s) biologypest(s) and knowledge of the pest(s) biology

• Is it a pest or beneficial?Is it a pest or beneficial?• Is it damaging the plant?Is it damaging the plant?• What type of damage is it doing?What type of damage is it doing?

• Is it injuring the plant or is it Is it injuring the plant or is it just causing aesthetic problems? just causing aesthetic problems?

• Is it persistent?Is it persistent?• When is it most damaging? When is it most damaging?

Pest ComplexPest Complex(sap suckers)(sap suckers)

Palm AphidPalm Aphid

Damage: usually aestheticDamage: usually aesthetic


MealybugsMealybugsDamage: usually aestheticDamage: usually aesthetic in the landscapein the landscape


Scale InsectsScale Insects

Damage: usually aestheticDamage: usually aesthetic but can get badbut can get bad


WhitefliesWhiteflies

Damage: rare in the Damage: rare in the landscapelandscape


Royal Palm BugRoyal Palm Bug

Damage: can be severeDamage: can be severe

Lethal YellowingLethal Yellowing

vectored by the Americanvectored by the Americanpalm cixiid, palm cixiid, Myndus crudusMyndus crudus

Pest ComplexPest Complex(Disease Vectors)(Disease Vectors)

Pest ComplexPest Complex(Foliage chewers)(Foliage chewers)

CaterpillarsCaterpillars


Palm Leaf SkeletonizerPalm Leaf Skeletonizer

Pest ComplexPest Complex(Foliage chewers)(Foliage chewers)


Pest ComplexPest Complex(Raspers)(Raspers)

Spider MitesSpider Mites


Pest ComplexPest Complex(Raspers)(Raspers)

ThripsThrips


Pest ComplexPest Complex(Borers)(Borers)

Ambrosia BeetlesAmbrosia BeetlesDamage: usually secondaryDamage: usually secondary to other problemsto other problems


Banana MothBanana Moth

Damage: usually lethalDamage: usually lethal

Silky Cane WeevilSilky Cane Weevil


Damage: severe - lethalDamage: severe - lethal

Palmetto WeevilPalmetto Weevil


Damage: LethalDamage: Lethal

Keep Track of Pests and BeneficialsKeep Track of Pests and Beneficialsby by MonitoringMonitoring Populations Populations

• Visually inspect plants to be protectedVisually inspect plants to be protected

• Looking for:Looking for:• Conditions that might lead to pest problemsConditions that might lead to pest problems• Health of the plantHealth of the plant• Signs of the pest (damage, excrement, etc.)Signs of the pest (damage, excrement, etc.)• The actual pest (count number/leaf, stem)The actual pest (count number/leaf, stem)• Beneficial organisms Beneficial organisms

Standard 10X hand or pocket lensStandard 10X hand or pocket lens

Pocket knifePocket knife

TweezersTweezers

Collection vials Collection vials

Paper bagsPaper bags

Field identification guideField identification guide

Notebook or data sheetNotebook or data sheet

Monitoring ToolsMonitoring Tools

Surveying Methods:Surveying Methods:

BEAT TRAYS

SemiochemcialTraps

+

Don’t be too quick to blame the bugs!Don’t be too quick to blame the bugs!

Pay close attention to the damage observed:Pay close attention to the damage observed:

May be a nutritional problem or a disease

Preventing Pest Problems/OutbreaksPreventing Pest Problems/Outbreaks

1. Install plants that are likely to thrive1. Install plants that are likely to thrive

• Plant only pest free palmsPlant only pest free palms

• Choose plants well adapted for our climateChoose plants well adapted for our climate

• Avoid plants that have severe pest problemsAvoid plants that have severe pest problems

The Palmetto Weevil, The Palmetto Weevil, Rhynchophorus cruentatusRhynchophorus cruentatus

• Host range:Host range:

- Cabbage palmetto (- Cabbage palmetto (Sabal palmetto)Sabal palmetto)- Saw palmetto (- Saw palmetto (Serrenoa repens)Serrenoa repens)- Coconut palm - Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera)(Cocos nucifera)- Canary Island date palm (- Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis)Phoenix canariensis)- - P. dactyliferaP. dactylifera- - PritchardiaPritchardia spp. spp.- - WashingtoniaWashingtonia spp. spp.- - RoystoneaRoystonea spp. spp.- - Latania Latania spp.spp.- - CaryotaCaryota spp. spp.

• Native to FloridaNative to Florida

Installed Sabal PalmInstalled Sabal Palmexhibiting “pop exhibiting “pop necking”necking”

Palmetto Weevil Grubs in Crown

Palmetto Weevil Adults

• In the past, palmetto weevils attacked onlyIn the past, palmetto weevils attacked only sabals and saw palmetto that were dying fromsabals and saw palmetto that were dying from some other problem. some other problem.

• They were considered a secondary pestThey were considered a secondary pest

• They are now considered, along with the They are now considered, along with the silky cane weevil, to be primary pests ofsilky cane weevil, to be primary pests of Canary Island date palmsCanary Island date palms

• Unfortunately, infestations in apparently Unfortunately, infestations in apparently healthy date palms is lethalhealthy date palms is lethal

Decline of Canary Island date palms infestedDecline of Canary Island date palms infestedwith the palmetto weevilwith the palmetto weevil

• Total loss of more than 500 date palms within Total loss of more than 500 date palms within a yeara year

• Some showed signs of previous cane weevil Some showed signs of previous cane weevil infestationinfestation

• Palms were about 10 years oldPalms were about 10 years old

Be careful not to confuse with lethal yellowingBe careful not to confuse with lethal yellowingDecline can be rapid (a few months)Decline can be rapid (a few months)

Tear palm apart and look for grubs, pupae, adults, Tear palm apart and look for grubs, pupae, adults, feeding damagefeeding damage

Treatment ineffective:Treatment ineffective:

Infested palms should removed and destroyed Infested palms should removed and destroyed as soon as possibleas soon as possible

Future:Future:

• Mass trappingMass trapping

• Prophylactic insecticide applicationsProphylactic insecticide applications

Cycad Aulacaspis ScaleCycad Aulacaspis Scale

Consider installing different cycad species untilConsider installing different cycad species untilpest is more easily managedpest is more easily managed

2. Avoid stress on palms2. Avoid stress on palms

• Install in proper location for speciesInstall in proper location for species

• Take care during transplantingTake care during transplanting

• Follow proper horticultural care proceduresFollow proper horticultural care procedures

• FertilizationFertilization

• IrrigationIrrigation

• Pruning Pruning

• SanitationSanitation

3) 3) Habitat modificationHabitat modification. Make habitat less . Make habitat less desirable to primary pest species desirable to primary pest species

(i.e., try to plant several versus a single (i.e., try to plant several versus a single plant species in an area)plant species in an area)

This can help to enhance This can help to enhance populations of predators populations of predators and parasitoidsand parasitoids

Decision Making (Action Threshold):Decision Making (Action Threshold):

1. Pest is lethal to the palm1. Pest is lethal to the palm

2. Pest is serious but manageable2. Pest is serious but manageable

3. Pest causes only aesthetic damage3. Pest causes only aesthetic damage

Categories to consider:Categories to consider:

Most pests often perceived as “Zero Tolerance” Most pests often perceived as “Zero Tolerance”

Some Some ““Serious” Serious” palm pestspalm pests

Banana Moth:Banana Moth:

Serious but can be treated Serious but can be treated with some insecticides and with some insecticides and nematodesnematodes

Royal Palm Bug:Royal Palm Bug:

Serious but can be treated Serious but can be treated with systemic insecticidewith systemic insecticide(imidacloprid)(imidacloprid)

Silky Cane Weevil:Silky Cane Weevil:

Serious but can be treated Serious but can be treated with some insecticides and with some insecticides and nematodes if caught earlynematodes if caught early

Aesthetic Problems:Aesthetic Problems:

• Usually not causing injury to plantUsually not causing injury to plant or stressing itor stressing it

• Problem is usually short-lived and Problem is usually short-lived and disappears on its own or natural enemiesdisappears on its own or natural enemies take care of problemtake care of problem

• Comes down to how much you or your Comes down to how much you or your clients can standclients can stand

• Cultural MethodsCultural Methods

• Mechanical MethodsMechanical Methods

• Physical MethodsPhysical Methods

• Biological ControlBiological Control

• Chemical ControlChemical Control

If you choose to manage pest problems, thereIf you choose to manage pest problems, thereare many tactics to choose from:are many tactics to choose from:

Evaluation and Follow-upEvaluation and Follow-up

• Important to evaluate how well control Important to evaluate how well control measures workedmeasures worked

• Can be determined during weekly monitoringCan be determined during weekly monitoring

A downloadable slide show located at theA downloadable slide show located at theUniversity of Florida’s, Fort LauderdaleUniversity of Florida’s, Fort Lauderdale

Research and Education Center Web Site:Research and Education Center Web Site:

www.ftld.ufl.eduwww.ftld.ufl.edu

Follow entomology or horticulture linksFollow entomology or horticulture links

Author: Tom Weissling, Alan W. Meerow, University of Florida

Photos: University of Florida, Jim Defilippis

Entomology And Nematology Department Copyright University of Florida 2000

For more detailed information see the Featured Creatures WWW site at

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/

Documents

Considerations in Palm Pest Management Tom Weissling Assistant Professor of Entomology University of Florida Fort Lauderdale Research & Education Center