Palm-Leaf Skeletonizer

The palm-leaf skeletonizer is a moth, the larvae of which feeds on many varieties of palms. They 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." The best control for this pest is to detect its presence early. Washing the larva and its tubes off with a wet sponge or high-pressure hose may prevent further damage.

UF/IFAS Sites

• Leafminers

UF/IFAS Publications

• Caterpillars That Defoliate Trees and Shrubs
• Caterpillars of Ornamental Plants
• Pests and Other Problems of Palms (PDF)
• Pests of Palms in Florida and the Caribbean Region (PDF)

Also on Gardening in a Minute

• Palms

Other Sites

• Moth Photographers Group: Palm Leaf Skeletonizer Moth--Mississippi State University
• Palm Leafskeletonizer, Homaledra sabalella: Biological Control--California Department of Food and Agriculture (PDF)
• Palm Leaf Skeletonizer, Homaledra sabalella: Status and Potential Pest Management Options--Florida State Horticultural Society (PDF)
• Species Homaledra sabalella - Palm Leaf Skeletonizer--BugGuide.net