Noticed these white areas on the Brahea fronds that looked bleached,  upon closer inspection the underside has all this junk on them, what in the world? Something is munching on the leaves, I found what looks like a small caterpillar in all the junk. There are several fronds showing this damage. but that’s not even the world part……..

 

The worst part is I also noticed the central fronds are all dead, I have them a tug a week or so ago and they held on tight, but today they pulled right out, so I have spear pull in August, with no apparent cause. Could the caterpillars have chewed up the growing point also? Can it be saved?

41 minutes ago, Xerarch said:

Noticed these white areas on the Brahea fronds that looked bleached,  upon closer inspection the underside has all this junk on them, what in the world? Something is munching on the leaves, I found what looks like a small caterpillar in all the junk. There are several fronds showing this damage. but that’s not even the world part……..

 

The worst part is I also noticed the central fronds are all dead, I have them a tug a week or so ago and they held on tight, but today they pulled right out, so I have spear pull in August, with no apparent cause. Could the caterpillars have chewed up the growing point also? Can it be saved?

I'm not sure about the spear damage but I have seen the same thing in the underside of fronds of my Sabal Lisa.  Haven't seen any damage though.  Did you notice a small hole near the base of the palm?  I lost a couple of small palms to the dreaded ox beetle in San Antonio during summer and I know it's a problem down here too.

All I can really say is pour peroxide into the crown daily for a week or so. I have no experience with brahea though so hopefully someone else can give more informed advice. It would be a shame to lose such a nice palm so I wish you luck in saving it.

Not sure if they're the cause of the central fronds dying, but I think those caterpillars in all the junk are palm leaf skeletonizer. I had the same question last October when they got to one of my Sabals.

• https://idtools.org/palm_symptoms/index.cfm?packageID=1111&entityID=3334
• https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/leeco/2023/11/02/palm-leaf-skeletonizer/ 

Edited August 13, 2025Aug 13 by 5am
links

Scale or a leaf skeletonizer.

13 hours ago, 5am said:

Not sure if they're the cause of the central fronds dying, but I think those caterpillars in all the junk are palm leaf skeletonizer. I had the same question last October when they got to one of my Sabals.

• https://idtools.org/palm_symptoms/index.cfm?packageID=1111&entityID=3334
• https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/leeco/2023/11/02/palm-leaf-skeletonizer/ 

Matt I'm glad you posted this!  I took a closer look at my Sabal Lisa and there is some damage.  Not a lot but several fronds were infected and I was able to hose them off.  The Lisa fronds are cupped and easy for hiding infestations.  I also checked a nearby Livistona nitida and hosed off a small infestation there also.  There's tons of moths always buzzing around here!  🤢

This is not comforting at all lol. I post about buying some $3 canna seeds and I find out there's moths and caterpillars that destroy them. Now I find out there's moths and caterpillars that destroy fan palms, and their favorite seems to be Sabal species which is like 98% of what I can grow here. I can't become an oak tree fan because there's also an oak skeletonizer moth. 

 

Maybe I just pull a 180 and become a huge fan of Bermuda grass and feral cats. 

54 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

Maybe I just pull a 180 and become a huge fan of Bermuda grass and feral cats. 

Guaranteed success! 😆👍

 

aztropic 

Mesa, Arizona