What's eating my peach palm?

Peach palm faces the South American palm weevil (Rhynchophorus palmarum) as its most destructive pest — larvae bore into the trunk and heart, causing collapse. Smaller stem-boring weevils (Metamasius, Dynamis borassi) also attack. Fungal leaf spot diseases are common in humid conditions.

Larvae bore deep into the trunk and growing tip (heart of palm), causing rotting of the central crown, wilting fronds, and eventual death of the stem. Remove and destroy any fallen, rotting palm material nearby that may harbour adults. Pheromone traps are used in commercial production. Inspect trunks regularly and destroy infested stems.

Adults lay eggs in wounds on the trunk; larvae tunnel into the stem, causing rot, fruit cluster stalk damage, and reduced yields. Avoid mechanical injury to stems, as wounds attract ovipositing females. Remove damaged tissue promptly. Pheromone-baited traps help monitor adult activity.

Brown or grey lesions with yellow halos on fronds; heavy infection reduces photosynthesis and weakens the palm. Improve air circulation around plants. Remove and dispose of infected fronds. Apply copper-based fungicide in wet seasons.