According to University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, an unidentified plant hopper insect pierces the leaves and then vomits and the vomit spreads causing a bacteria called phytoplasma to infect the tree and eventually kill it. Texas Phoenix Palm Decline is the name of the disease. The first Florida sighting of Texas Phoenix Palm Decline was in 2005 in Manatee County. Since then, it’s been detected in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk counties, although experts say Manatee County is still the hardest-hit area.
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