re: Palm tree disease - Louisiana

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Lethal bronzing. Some sort of insect I think.

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A leaf hopper is the the only known vector in the the US. It isn't all that widespread outside of Florida and the Caribbean, and seems to be a big issue in nurseries with nursery stock. It seems like there is no known cure for it either once it is established. Trees near an infected tree can be be continuously treated, at a high cost, but infected trees have to be taken out. The leaf hopper and the disease seem to be imported into new areas via nursery stock primarily.

The leaf hopper also loves St. Augustine grasses and can be a vector of disease for it.