What's eating my moluccan fishtail palm?

Moluccan Fishtail Palm, native to Southeast Asian forests, is most seriously threatened outdoors by rhinoceros beetles boring into the crown, and by scale insects and palm aphids on the foliage. In container or conservatory settings spider mites become the primary concern. The tall solitary trunk makes early monitoring of the crown critical.

Characteristic V-notch damage on unfurling spear leaves; bore holes at the crown; fronds emerge tattered or fail to open. Remove rotting wood and compost piles nearby. Apply Baculovirus oryctes or nematode drenches. Use pheromone traps to reduce local adult populations.

Dense clusters of brown or white waxy scales on petioles; fronds yellow and leaves drop prematurely. Horticultural oil spray on reachable fronds; imidacloprid systemic drench for established palms.

Pale stippling and bronze discolouration on leaflets; webbing visible in low-humidity conditions. Raise humidity; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil every 7 days, targeting leaflet undersides.