Pest identification
What's eating my chilean wine palm?
Palm aphids (Cerataphis brasiliensis)
Signs: Sticky honeydew on fronds, yellowing leaflets, and sooty mold buildup on leaf surfaces
Control: Spray with a strong jet of water to knock off colonies; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce ladybirds/ladybugs as biological control
Cycad / palm scale (Diaspididae spp.)
Signs: White or brown crusty bumps on leaf stems and fronds; yellowing and frond dieback under heavy infestation
Control: Scrub off with a soft brush dipped in dilute rubbing alcohol; apply horticultural oil spray; repeat every 2 weeks until clear
Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Fine webbing on undersides of leaflets, stippled silvery-bronze discoloration on frond surfaces
Control: Increase humidity around the plant; rinse foliage thoroughly; apply neem oil or a miticide labeled for ornamental palms
Keep chilean wine palm pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Chilean Wine Palm pests — FAQ
What is eating my chilean wine palm?
Chilean Wine Palm is most threatened by palm aphids and scale insects outdoors, with spider mites attacking stressed or container-grown specimens. Rodents and squirrels may gnaw on fallen fruit. The palm's thick trunk resists most mechanical damage, but sap-sucking pests weaken fronds and invite sooty mold.
How do I get rid of palm aphids (cerataphis brasiliensis) on chilean wine palm?
Sticky honeydew on fronds, yellowing leaflets, and sooty mold buildup on leaf surfaces Spray with a strong jet of water to knock off colonies; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce ladybirds/ladybugs as biological control
How do I get rid of cycad / palm scale (diaspididae spp.) on chilean wine palm?
White or brown crusty bumps on leaf stems and fronds; yellowing and frond dieback under heavy infestation Scrub off with a soft brush dipped in dilute rubbing alcohol; apply horticultural oil spray; repeat every 2 weeks until clear
How do I get rid of spider mites (tetranychus urticae) on chilean wine palm?
Fine webbing on undersides of leaflets, stippled silvery-bronze discoloration on frond surfaces Increase humidity around the plant; rinse foliage thoroughly; apply neem oil or a miticide labeled for ornamental palms