Floridians are dealing with an invasive insect that is drawn to one of the State’s most beautiful stand out features - its palm trees.
Phantasma Scale has invaded the state’s palms since it was discovered on Canary Island date palms here in Florida back in 2018. These palm tree parasites thrive in warmer temperatures and can survive year round in Florida weather. They are mussel-shaped parasites, typically 1mm in length, and not always visible to the naked eye. And while Phantasma Scale will occasionally invade fruit and ornamental trees, it has a preference for palms, creating a major threat for Florida’s landscapes.
Home and business owners who try to treat Phantasma Scale on their own through home remedies will not find much success, as “scale” insects are protected from generic treatments because of a waxy protective coating that covers the entire body.
Are Your Trees Infected with Phantasma Scale?
If you have noticed stunted growth with your palm trees, yellow, blotchy patches on its leaves, increased leaf dropping, and a loss of plant vigor, reach out to Pride Fertilization and one of our experts can inspect your trees for Phantasma Scale and other invasive species.
How is Phantasma Scale Treated?
With Phantasma Scale, its crucial to not only choose the right insecticide but also confirm the stage the Phantasma Scale is currently in - as during certain stages of the insect’s life cycle, the insect is not covered by a scale and therefore, is more susceptible to treatment.
With our help, you can minimize the damage caused to your palm trees because of this invasive species, and help prevent it from traveling to other areas of your landscape.
If your lawn is showing symptoms of Phantasma Scale, call Pride Fertilization and Pest Control immediately at 954-797-7907 so we can assess your property and confirm if you are in fact dealing with this invasive species.
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