Pest identification
What's eating my burrawang palm?
Cycad aulacaspis scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui)
Signs: Dense white scale colonies on leaflets and stem; rapid yellowing, frond drop and possible plant death
Control: Horticultural oil sprays monthly until clear; systemic imidacloprid soil drench for severe root-level infestations
Cycad blue butterfly caterpillars
Signs: New crozier fronds chewed before hardening; plant may not flush again for 1–2 years
Control: Bt spray on emerging flush; hand-pick caterpillars; protect new growth with fine insect netting
Wallabies
Signs: Browsed fronds and caudex damage from repeated visits to garden plantings
Control: Physical guards or sturdy fencing; repellent sprays as a temporary deterrent
Keep burrawang palm pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Burrawang Palm pests — FAQ
What is eating my burrawang palm?
Burrawang Palm (Macrozamia spiralis) is most seriously threatened by cycad scale and cycad blue butterfly caterpillars in gardens from Sydney to Southeast Queensland. Mealybugs attack potted specimens. In bush settings, wallabies and possums graze newly emerging fronds, which is especially damaging given the plant's naturally slow growth rate.
How do I get rid of cycad aulacaspis scale (aulacaspis yasumatsui) on burrawang palm?
Dense white scale colonies on leaflets and stem; rapid yellowing, frond drop and possible plant death Horticultural oil sprays monthly until clear; systemic imidacloprid soil drench for severe root-level infestations
How do I get rid of cycad blue butterfly caterpillars on burrawang palm?
New crozier fronds chewed before hardening; plant may not flush again for 1–2 years Bt spray on emerging flush; hand-pick caterpillars; protect new growth with fine insect netting
How do I get rid of wallabies on burrawang palm?
Browsed fronds and caudex damage from repeated visits to garden plantings Physical guards or sturdy fencing; repellent sprays as a temporary deterrent