Pest identification
What's eating my australian bangalow palm?
Palm aphids (Cerataphis brasiliensis)
Signs: Flat disc-like colonies on new growth and spear leaf; honeydew deposits and sooty mold on lower fronds
Control: Hose off with water; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray to the crown; introduce beneficial insects
Scale insects
Signs: Hard or soft bumps on trunk, petioles, and leaf bases; frond yellowing; sticky honeydew
Control: Horticultural oil or summer oil spray; hand-remove heavy encrustations; repeat at 2-week intervals
Caterpillars (various Lepidoptera)
Signs: Irregular holes or notched edges on fronds; larger larvae may skeletonize leaflets
Control: Hand-pick caterpillars; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage for biological control
Keep australian bangalow palm pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Australian Bangalow Palm pests — FAQ
What is eating my australian bangalow palm?
Australian Bangalow Palm (Dypsis cunninghamiana, syn. Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) grown outdoors is attacked by palm aphids, scale insects, and occasionally caterpillars that chew fronds. In warm, humid landscapes, mealybugs can also colonize the crown. Scale and aphids are the most consistent pests in garden plantings.
How do I get rid of palm aphids (cerataphis brasiliensis) on australian bangalow palm?
Flat disc-like colonies on new growth and spear leaf; honeydew deposits and sooty mold on lower fronds Hose off with water; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray to the crown; introduce beneficial insects
How do I get rid of scale insects on australian bangalow palm?
Hard or soft bumps on trunk, petioles, and leaf bases; frond yellowing; sticky honeydew Horticultural oil or summer oil spray; hand-remove heavy encrustations; repeat at 2-week intervals
How do I get rid of caterpillars (various lepidoptera) on australian bangalow palm?
Irregular holes or notched edges on fronds; larger larvae may skeletonize leaflets Hand-pick caterpillars; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage for biological control