UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service 458 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578 Phone: (863) 763-6469 E- mail: [email protected]

Palm Leaf Skeletonizer Daniel F. Culbert, Extension Agent III, Environmental Horticulture

Left: leaf damage Above: waste material (frass) Below: larva - up to ½ in. Right: adult - ½ in.

 ‘–Š Š‘‡ Žƒ†• ƒ’‡”• ƒ† —”•‡”› ‰”‘™‡”• ‘ ƒ•‹‘ƒŽŽ› ‡ ‘—–‡” –Š‹• ‹•‡ –’‡•–‘’ƒŽˆ”‘†•ǤŠ‹•ˆƒ –•Š‡‡–™‹ŽŽ†‡• ”‹„‡™Šƒ–‹•‘™ƒ„‘—– –Š‡‹”Ž‹ˆ‡Š‹•–‘”›ƒ†ƒƒ‰‡‡–•—‰‰‡•–‹‘•ˆ‘””‡†— ‹‰–Š‡‹’ƒ –‘ˆ–Š‡‹” ˆ‡‡†‹‰†ƒƒ‰‡Ǥ

Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. Read and follow all pesticide label instructions. The Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean. Date of Publication August 2010.

The palm-leaf skeletonizer is a moth, the larvae of which feed on many varieties of palms. As many as 78 species of palms are known to be hosts of this , which feeds only on palms.  •–—†›‹ͳͻͻͷ•Š‘™‡†–Šƒ–†ƒƒ‰‡„›–Š‹•‹•‡ ––‘ ‘ ‘—–’ƒŽ• ȋCocos nuciferaȌ Šƒ† „‡‡’ƒ”–‹ —Žƒ”Ž›•‡˜‡”‡Ǥ

The caterpillars form dark tube-like structures on the underside of the leaf and eat leaf sections between veins. The resulting damage looks much like a leaf "skeleton."  Š‡‘•– ‘‘’ƒŽŽ‡ƒˆ•‡Ž‡–‘‹œ‡”‹–Š‹•ƒ”‡ƒ‹•sabalellaǤŠ‡›”ƒ‰‡ –Š”‘—‰Š‘—– Ž‘”‹†ƒƒ†‹–‘‘–Š‡”•‘—–Š‡ƒ•–‡”•–ƒ–‡•ǡƒ†ƒ”‡ƒŽ•‘ ‘™ ‹ ƒ”‹„„‡ƒ ‘—–‹‡•Ǥ  Š‡”‡ ƒ”‡ ‘–Š‡” Ž‘•‡Ž› ”‡Žƒ–‡† •’‡ ‹‡• ƒ† –Š‡ –ƒš‘‘› ƒ† ”ƒ‰‡• ‘ˆ –Š‡•‡‹•‡ –•‹••–‹ŽŽ—†‡”‹˜‡•–‹‰ƒ–‹‘Ǥ  Š‡ ƒ–‡”’‹ŽŽƒ”• ‘ˆ –Š‹• •ƒŽŽ ‘–Š ˆ‡‡† ‘ –Š‡ —’’‡” ƒ† Ž‘™‡” Ž‡ƒˆ •—”ˆƒ ‡• ‘ˆ ƒ› ’ƒŽ•ǡ ’”‘†— ‹‰ Žƒ”‰‡ “—ƒ–‹–‹‡• ‘ˆ ̶ˆ”ƒ••̶ ȋ„”‘™ ˆ‹„”‘—• ‡š ”‡‡–Ȍ –Šƒ– ‹• ‘ˆ–‡ –Š‡ ˆ‹”•– ‘•’‹ —‘—••‹‰‘ˆƒ‹ˆ‡•–ƒ–‹‘Ǥ  Š‡ –‹••—‡ „‡–™‡‡ –Š‡ ˜‡‹• ‘” ”‹„• ‹• —•—ƒŽŽ›–Š‡‹”’”‡ˆ‡””‡†ˆ‘‘†ǡ„—––Š‡›™‹ŽŽ ƒŽ•‘ ˆ‡‡† ‘ –Š‡ Ž‡ƒˆ •–‡•ǡ †‹•”—’–‹‰ –Š‡ ˜ƒ• —Žƒ”–‹••—‡ƒ† ƒ—•‹‰–Š‡†‡ƒ–Š‘ˆ–Š‡‡–‹”‡Ž‡ƒˆǤ  Š‡’ƒŽŽ‡ƒˆ•‡Ž‡–‘‹œ‡”‹•†‡–‡ –‡†„›–‹› „”‘™ˆ‡ ƒŽ’‡ŽŽ‡–•‹ ‘”’‘”ƒ–‡†‹ƒ•‹Ž™‡„ ‘–Š‡’ƒŽˆ”‘†•ǤŠ‡•‡’‡ŽŽ‡–•Ž‘‘Ž‹‡ ˆ‹‡•ƒ™†—•–ƒ†ƒ”‡ˆ‘—†‘–Š‡—†‡”•‹†‡ ‘ˆ Ž‡ƒ˜‡• ‘” ™Š‡”‡ –Š‡› Šƒ˜‡ „‡‡ ™‘˜‡ –‘‰‡–Š‡”Ǥ‡‘˜‹‰–Š‡™‡„”‡˜‡ƒŽ• ”‡ƒ›Ǧ ™Š‹–‡ ƒ–‡”’‹ŽŽƒ”•—’–‘ͷȀͺ̶Ž‘‰™‹–Š‡‹‰Š– ˆƒ‹–”‡††‹•ŠǦ„”‘™Ž‡‰–Š™‹•‡•–”‹’‡•ǤŠ‡ ƒ–‡”’‹ŽŽƒ”•ˆ‡‡†‘–Š‡•—”ˆƒ ‡‘Ž›Ǥ  Š‡–‹›‘–Š•Šƒ˜‡ƒͷȀͺ̶™‹‰•’ƒƒ†ƒ”‡ ‹ ‘•’‹ —‘—•Ǥ  Š‡ ‘–Š †‡’‘•‹–• ‡‰‰• ‘ –Š‡ —ˆ‘Ž†‹‰ ˆ”‘†•Ǥ Š‡ Žƒ”˜ƒ‡ ƒ”‡ ‰”‡‰ƒ”‹‘—•ƒ† ”‡ƒ–‡Žƒ”‰‡Ž‘‰‹–—†‹ƒŽ‹‡•Ǥ—’ƒ–‹‘‘ —”•‘–Š‡Ž‡ƒˆƒ†–Š‡”‡ƒ”‡ •‡˜‡”ƒŽ ‰‡‡”ƒ–‹‘• ‡ƒ Š ›‡ƒ”Ǥ  ƒŽ Ž‡ƒˆ‹‡”• ‘ —” ’”‹ƒ”‹Ž›‹–Š‡•—‡”ƒ†ˆƒŽŽ ‘–Š•Ǥ— ‡••‹˜‡‰‡‡”ƒ–‹‘•ƒ’’‡ƒ”–Š”‘—‰Š‘—–™ƒ”•‡ƒ•‘Ǥ  Management:

‘”homeowners,–Š‡„‡•– ‘–”‘Žˆ‘”–Š‹•’‡•–‹•–‘†‡–‡ –‹–•’”‡•‡ ‡‡ƒ”Ž›Ǥƒ•Š‹‰–Š‡ Žƒ”˜ƒ ƒ† ‹–• –—„‡• ‘ˆˆ ™‹–Š ƒ ™‡– •’‘‰‡ ‘” Š‹‰ŠǦ’”‡••—”‡ Š‘•‡ƒ›’”‡˜‡–ˆ—”–Š‡” †ƒƒ‰‡Ǥ

‘”commercialgrowersandlandscapersǡ–Š‡ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‹‰‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘ƒ›„‡‘ˆ˜ƒŽ—‡‹ Š‘‘•‹‰ –Š‡ ‘””‡ – –‡‰”ƒ–‡† ‡•– ƒƒ‰‡‡– ‘’–‹‘•Ǣ ’Ž‡ƒ•‡ ‘–ƒ –Š‹•‘ˆˆ‹ ‡ˆ‘” ƒ••‹•–ƒ ‡™‹–Š•‡Ž‡ –‹‰•’‡ ‹ˆ‹ ’‡•–‹ ‹†‡’”‘†— –•ǣ  Chemical:‘’‹ ƒŽ–”‡ƒ–‡–™‹–Šbifenthrin‹ŽŽ‡†‹•‡–•‹Žƒ„‘”ƒ–‘”›ƒ†‘ˆ–‡‡ˆˆ‡ –‹˜‡ ‘ ‹†‹˜‹†—ƒŽ ’ƒŽ• ‹ ˆ‹‡Ž†ǡ „—– ”‡•—Ž–• ™‡”‡ —‡˜‡ǡ ’‘••‹„Ž› „‡ ƒ—•‡ ˆ”ƒ•• –—„‡• ’”‘–‡ –‡†–Š‡Žƒ”˜ƒǤ”‘‘–†”‡ Š™‹–Šimidacloprid”‡•—Ž–‡†‹‘Ž›ƒ•Ž‹‰Š–”‡†— –‹‘‹ †ƒƒ‰‡‘ ‘ ‘—–’ƒŽ•ǡ’‘••‹„Ž›„‡ ƒ—•‡‹–‹•–”ƒ•Ž‘ ƒ–‡†–‘‡™‰”‘™–Šȏ‹Ǥ‡Ǥ–Š‹•‹•‡ – ˆ‡‡†•‘‘Ž†‡”ˆ”‘†•ȐǤ‹™‡‡Ž›ƒ’’Ž‹ ƒ–‹‘•‘ˆazadirachtin‘Ž›”‡†— ‡†’‘’—Žƒ–‹‘•„› ͷͲΨǢ–Š‡”‡ˆ‘”‡ǡ–Š‹• ‘–”‘Ž‡–Š‘†‹•‹•—ˆˆ‹ ‹‡––‘Œ—•–‹ˆ›–Š‡‡ˆˆ‘”–Ǥ  Physical:‡‘˜ƒŽƒ†„—”‹‰‘ˆ‡ˆˆ‡ –‡†ˆ”‘†•ƒ›„‡Š‡Ž’ˆ—Ž‹ˆ‹ˆ‡•–ƒ–‹‘•ƒ”‡‘–‹ ‡† ‡ƒ”Ž›ƒ†–Š‡‹ˆ‡•–ƒ–‹‘Šƒ•‘–•’”‡ƒ†‹–Š‡ƒ”‡ƒǤƒ•Š‹‰‘ˆˆ–Š‡Žƒ”˜ƒƒ†–Š‡‹”ˆ”ƒ•• ™‹–Šƒ™‡–•’‘‰‡‘”„Žƒ•–‹‰™‹–Šƒ•’”ƒ›‘ˆ™ƒ–‡”ƒ›Š‡Š‡Ž’ˆ—Žǡ‡•’‡ ‹ƒŽŽ›‹ˆ–Š‡’ƒŽ •’‡ ‹‡•Šƒ••–‹ˆˆˆ”‘†•Ǥ  Biological:‘‡’ƒ”ƒ•‹–‘‹†•ƒ†’ƒ”ƒ•‹–‡•‘ˆ–Š‹•’‡•–ƒ”‡‘™–‘ƒ––ƒ  –Š‡ Žƒ”˜ƒǡ ‹ Ž—†‹‰ ƒ ’”‡†ƒ ‹‘—• „‡‡–Ž‡ ƒ† ƒ –ƒ Š‹‹† ˆŽ›Ǥ Š‡› ƒ”‡ ‘– ‘™ –‘ „‡ ƒ˜ƒ‹Žƒ„Ž‡ ‘‡” ‹ƒŽŽ›Ǥ  ‡‡”ƒŽ Ȁ pesticiderecommendationsforornamentalcaterpillars ƒ„‡ˆ‘—† ‹–Š‡ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‹‰’—„Ž‹ ƒ–‹‘ǣ —••ǡ‹Ž‡‡Ǥƒ†ƒ›ˆ‹‡Ž†ǡŽ„‡”–ǤCaterpillarsthatDefoliateTreesandShrubsǤ ȏǦ͵ͷ͵Ȑ ƒ‹‡•˜‹ŽŽ‡ǣ Ȁ š–‡•‹‘‡”˜‹ ‡ǡ —‡ʹͲͲ͸Ǥ Š––’ǣȀȀ‡†‹•Ǥ‹ˆƒ•Ǥ—ˆŽǤ‡†—Ȁ‹͸ʹͺ

Other References:

ƒ•—Ž‘ǡ‘ǤƒŽ‡ƒˆ•‡Ž‡–‘‹œ‡”ƒƒ‰‡Ǥ ǣWoodybugWebsiteǤ ƒ‹‡•˜‹ŽŽ‡ǣ Ȁ š–‡•‹‘‡”˜‹ ‡ǡ ʹͲͳͲǤŠ––’ǣȀȀ‡–‡†‡’–Ǥ‹ˆƒ•Ǥ—ˆŽǤ‡†—Ȁˆƒ•—Ž‘Ȁ™‘‘†›’‡•–Ȁ͵ͷ͹ǤŠ–  ‘™ƒ”†ǡ ǤǤHostPreferencesofthePalmLeafSkeletonizerǤ ‘”–ƒ—†‡”†ƒŽ‡ǣ Ȁ Tropicline, ‘Ž—‡ͻǡ—„‡”ͳǡ —Ž›Ǧ‡’–‡„‡”ǡͳͻͻ͸ǤŠ––’ǣȀȀˆŽ”‡ Ǥ‹ˆƒ•Ǥ—ˆŽǤ‡†—Ȁ’†ˆ•Ȁ”‘’‹ ‹‡Ȁ”‘’‹ ‹‡̴ͲͻǦͳǤ’†ˆ  ‘™ƒ”†ǡ ‘””‡•–Ǥƒ†„”‡—ǡ†™‹ǤƒŽ‡ƒˆ‡Ž‡–‘‹œ‡”ǡHomaledrasabalellaȋ‡’‹†‘’–‡”ƒǣ ColeophoridaeȌǣ–ƒ–—•ƒ†‘–‡–‹ƒŽ‡•–ƒƒ‰‡‡–’–‹‘•Ǥƒ‡Žˆ”‡†ǣ”‘ ‡‡†‹‰•‘ˆ–Š‡ Ž‘”‹†ƒ–ƒ–‡ ‘”–‹ —Ž–—”ƒŽ‘ ‹‡–›ȋ  Ȍ‘ŽǤͳʹͲǣ͵ͷ͸Ǧ͵ͷͻǡʹͲͲ͹Ǥȋ‡ƒ†‡”• ƒ ‘–ƒ ––Š‹•‘ˆˆ‹ ‡–‘”‡ ‡‹˜‡ƒ ‘’›‘ˆ–Š‹• ‘ˆˆǦŽ‹‡†‘ —‡–ǤȌ

ƒ”–‹ǡ‹”ǤƬŠ‘ƒ•ǡ‡‹•‡ǤImportantInsectPlantPestsandtheirHostsinFloridaȏ‘™‡”‘‹– ’”‡•‡–ƒ–‹‘ȐǤ ƒ‹‡•˜‹ŽŽ‡ǣ Ȁ Žƒ–‡†‹ ‹‡”‘‰”ƒǤʹͲͲͷǤ Š––’ǣȀȀ‹’Ǥ‹ˆƒ•Ǥ—ˆŽǤ‡†—Ȁ‡•–̴ Ȁ ̴ ̴‡•–•Ȁˆ‹Ž‡•Ȁ ̴ ̴‡•–•̴–”‡‡•Ǥ’’•š

‡‡”‘™ǡŽƒǤPestsandOtherProblemsofPalms[ ͺͷͻȐǤ ƒ‹‡•˜‹ŽŽ‡ǣ Ȁ š–‡•‹‘‡”˜‹ ‡ǡ —‡ǡ ʹͲͲͶǤŠ––’ǣȀȀ•ˆ” Ǥ—ˆŽǤ‡†—Ȁ—”„ƒˆ‘”‡•–”›Ȁ‡•‘—” ‡•Ȁ ΨʹͲ†‘™Ž‘ƒ†•Ȁ‡•–̴”‘„Ž‡̴ƒŽ•̴ʹͲͲͶǤ’†ˆ  ‡‡”‘™ǡŽƒǤƒ†‡‹••Ž‹‰ǡŠ‘ƒ• ǤPestsofPalmsInFloridaandtheCaribbeanRegionȏ•Ž‹†‡•‡–ǡ•Ž‹†‡• ͳ͸Ǧͳ͹ȐǤ ‘”–ƒ—†‡”†ƒŽ‡ǣ Ȁ ǤͳͻͻͺǤǤŠ––’ǣȀȀˆŽ”‡ Ǥ‹ˆƒ•Ǥ—ˆŽǤ‡†—Ȁ’†ˆ•Ȁ‡•–•ˆƒŽ•  Ž‘”‹†ƒǤ’†ˆ  —’’‡”–ǡǤ Ǥǡ ƒ„‡ ǡǤ ǤǡŠ‘”–ǡǤǤƒ†ƒ•–‡”ǡ ǤǤCaterpillarsofOrnamentalPlantsSheet#1ȏͳͷʹȐǤ ƒ‹‡•˜‹ŽŽ‡ǣ Ȁ š–‡•‹‘‡”˜‹ ‡ǡ —‡ǡʹͲͲͷǤŠ––’ǣȀȀ‡†‹•Ǥ‹ˆƒ•Ǥ—ˆŽǤ‡†—Ȁ’†ˆˆ‹Ž‡•Ȁ Ȁ Ͳ͵͵ͲͲǤ’†ˆ  ‹ Šƒǡ‘ǤPalmǦLeafSkeletonizerȂ ƒ”†‡‹‰‹ƒ‹—–‡Ǥ ƒ•–‡” ƒ”†‡‡””‘‰”ƒǤ —Ž›ǡʹͲͲͻǤ Š––’ǣȀȀ™™™Ǥ‰ƒ”†‡‹‰•‘Ž—–‹‘•Ǥ‹ˆƒ•Ǥ—ˆŽǤ‡†—Ȁ‰‹ƒȀ’”‘„Ž‡•Ȁ†‹•‡ƒ•‡•̴ƒ†̴’‡•–•Ȁ’ƒŽ̴•‡Ž‡–‘ǤŠ–Ž