A fatal disease known as lethal bronzing is killing off thousands of palm trees across south Louisiana. LSU Ag Center Plant Doctor, Raj Singh says the disease is wiping out 16 different types of palms across the state.
“All different palms including the canary island date palm, the common date palm, and the silver palm. They’re all host to this phytoplasma disease.”
The palm tree killer has been detected in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, and Iberia Parishes. Singh says the disease is transmitted by a small insect known as a planthopper but there’s no cure.
“The systemic insecticides are not very effective against it. Even some of the insecticides cause there is not a uniform good coverage. Then you can miss the insect.”
The antibiotic treatments are $50 to $100 per treatment and are not available to the average homeowner. What can you do? Singh says you can remove the dead palms and…
“There is an antibiotic which is called OPC. It can be used as a trunk injection but the treatments are about four treatments a year every quarter.”
Once a tree is infected, its decline is noticeable in about three months.
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