Question
I have had my Pigmy Palm for 15 yrs now and it is doing well. However, I have noticed that the bottom bark is spongy and can be torn away easily.  I started to clean away the debris and notice white sticky insects I believe to be snails sucking off the bark I discarded.  What should I spray the tree with to keep these insects away?  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Gail, the bugs were just taking advantage of a dark, moist area and were causing to harm to the Palm itself, however, if you want to eradicate them, simply remove their moist environment and they will go elsewhere; an immediate remedy would be Sevin or Malathion, but again, they are not doing any harm, if this is the reason you are eradicating them. Nick