What's eating my martius fan palm?

Martius Fan Palm is a cold-hardy outdoor palm from the Himalayas. In garden cultivation it faces scale insects and palm aphids on its petioles and fronds, and red palm weevil in Mediterranean and warm-temperate climates. Spider mites can be an issue in dry summers. Its cold hardiness gives it a wider temperate garden range than most palms.

Waxy armoured or soft scales encrusting petioles and the underside of fronds; yellowing foliage and sticky honeydew residue. Apply horticultural oil spray in spring before scales settle. Manually remove with soapy brush; systemic imidacloprid drench for heavy infestations.

Adult boring creates entry wounds at the crown; larvae tunnel the trunk causing internal rot and eventual collapse of the growing tip. Use preventive systemic insecticide (imidacloprid or thiamethoxam) in affected regions. Install pheromone-baited traps. Report suspected cases where notifiable.

Pale stippling on leaflets; webbing on undersides; most common during hot, dry summers. Water the root zone well during dry spells. Spray insecticidal soap or neem oil solution, targeting undersides of fronds, every 7–10 days.