Sabal Texana Problem

[westbay]

I live on Galveston Island in Texas. This palm came up in my yard maybe 10 years ago and I thought it was just a palmetto. I was surprised when it grew into a palm. Now it seems to be stressed, and not just from our cool winter, but something is going on. I know that it has had some dark "scale insects"? but it seems like something else is going on.

Here are a couple of pictures if someone has and idea how to treat it.

Thanks,

westbay

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Didn't it stay mild this year in Texas? I didn't think you got a freeze this year.

Sabal Palm Scale or Palmetto Scale, Comstockiella sabalis is usually whitish, not black, so that can't be it. I recommend you read through this document to find which pest you have: http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/pdfs/PestsofPalmsInFlorida.pdf.

If it's not a pest, and if it's affecting the lower fronds then there could be something going on with the roots, like fungus, water stress, or critter damage. If the damage affects the newest leaves then you've got a weevil or a fungal infection in the spear/heart of the palm. But check the pest doc linked above first, I am sure you'll be able to identify the culprit.

[stevethegator]

Not to be an alarmist, but could it be Texas Phoenix Palm Decline?

Spread by insects, it is known to attack Sabals and a major symptom is leaf discoloration. Maybe someone with more knowledge than me about this disease can comment here?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_phoenix_palm_decline

Edited April 19, 2013 by stevethegator

[Xerarch]

I don't think TPPD has been reported that far north, it's all over the RGV and has been reported in Corpus but I haven't heard of any reports in Galveston.

[westbay]

I've looked at some pest links and think maybe the damage is from black hard scale insects. They look like little turtle shells sort of. I read that they're hard to control. Maybe an oil spray will suffocate them??