Hey all, I finally got a Texas Sabal planted about a week ago. It's pretty mature. However I saw a black bug the other day on a fronds and sprayed it was captain jack insecticide and went about the day. However I went to inspect it again a day later (tonight) and I saw this bug crawling on the trunk. 

I hit it with my shoe and killed it. Is it a black palm weevil?? It was less than an inch long. Usually they are 1.5 inches, no? I thoroughly inspected the trunk and all the fronds and couldn't see anything else. 

The tree looks really healthy (about 2 spears coming out that are dark green). 

The bottom half of the trunk is "skinned" thus why it looks like that on the photo with the bug. I see no "tunnels" on it from what I see. 

One note, many of remaining boots seem "loose" when I tug on them with my finger I thought nothing of it when I tagged it, but could that also be a sign of something bad inside? Only the top layer or two of boots seem firm to the tree when I tug on it.

1. Is the black beetle looking thing on the skinned portion of the trunk

2. Is some translucent bug on a fronds (I killed it too), probably nothing

3. Is a general shot of the foliage  

4. Is an up close of the new spears (they look healthy)

That is some sort of squash/stink bug… which are mostly sap suckers but not a major threat to the palm

Thanks for the reply and I hope you are right! Here's a better image of the black bug. Its actually more like .5 inch long, which made me think it can't be a palm weevil (those things are juicier and closer to 1 inch and up). But darn, it looks like the images I see on Google (specifically the black palmetto weevil).. 

The tree place I bought it from looked at the image and said it's a boll weevil flying around in North Texas and that it won't harm the palm. 

46 minutes ago, palmaddict83 said:

Thanks for the reply and I hope you are right! Here's a better image of the black bug. Its actually more like .5 inch long, which made me think it can't be a palm weevil (those things are juicier and closer to 1 inch and up). But darn, it looks like the images I see on Google (specifically the black palmetto weevil).. 

The tree place I bought it from looked at the image and said it's a boll weevil flying around in North Texas and that it won't harm the palm. 

That is a Snout Weevil...  but which one, specifically ( there are several ) is tougher to say. 

Best guess, based on the most obvious candidate(s) that occurs in your region, ..Agave / Sisal, or " Palmetto " Weevil. 

Keep in mind there are numerous other species of " Snout -type " Weevils as well. Many are plant group specific ..IE: Cactus Weevil / Yucca Weevil  ..But look very similar to one another under casual observation. 

Close by, but no confirmed / reported sightings of SAPW ( South American Palm Weevil )  in TX   -yet..

See the following, particularly the observed range maps of each..  FYI:  when trying to ID bugs ..or almost anything else really, lol   ..iNat is one of the best places to head for accurate detective work. Rando, simplified  google -type searches won't always lead you in the right direction..



Sisal / Agave Snout Weevil: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/269419-Scyphophorus-acupunctatus


Palmetto Weevil: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/130352-Rhynchophorus-cruentatus


SAPW: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/304994-Rhynchophorus-palmarum