Question
Alot of my sago palms have this white dissease looking stuff on the fronds and the base.  It has moved all around the backyard from one sago to the next but doesn't seem to get on other plants.  It is killing them and these are 20 something sago's.  I now have noticed this stuff on my sagos in the front yard.  We live in SE Houston and this started this summer.  We have had a few freezes this winter but it still persists.  Any help will be appreciated.  Thanks  VIV

Answer
Hi Viv, its an insect called Aucalaspis Scale, (spelling may be a little off...), and it is the bane of Sago Palms; You need to spray the palm with a Horticultural Oil, combined with a Insectecidal drench, which you mix and pour right into the soil, so the roots take up the solution into the internal workings of the Palm, when the scale feeds it dies. The oil suffocates them from outside, between the two you can control the Scale, but never end the threat, they are very persistant. Look for "Ultra Fine Oil" and the drench is a "Bayer" product.