Something’s been silently attacking iconic palms across North Florida – and it’s time to take notice. The palmetto weevil (Rhynchophorus cruentatus), North America’s largest native weevil, is causing serious damage in home landscapes, nurseries, and public spaces across the Panhandle.
While this pest usually goes after stressed or damaged palms, recent environmental changes mean even healthy trees are at risk. A mix of warmer winters, drought, ongoing development, and frequent palm transplanting has made the perfect storm for this pest to spread.
What makes the palmetto weevil especially destructive is that its larvae tunnel deep into the palm’s crown and kill the growth point. Once that happens, the whole tree dies – and often, the damage isn’t obvious until it’s too late.
What’s at stake
The palmetto weevil’s spread is hitting the Panhandle on several fronts. Economically, the loss of high-value landscape palms – often worth between $500 and $2,500 or more – can be a major blow to homeowners and businesses alike. Add to that the rising costs of detection, removal, and treatment, and it’s clear this pest is becoming an expensive problem…