scale insect  

The pest appears as small, flattened gray or white-scaled bodies with a dark central spot. The female is broadly oval and larger, while the male is also flattened but smaller. They may be present in small or large numbers on the surface of leaflets and green fronds branches, with higher density on offshoots and young palms. In severe infestations, they may cover the surface of green fronds, while taller palms tend to be less affected.  

The scale insect infests fronds, fronds branches, fruit stalks, and fruits. The nymphs and adult females feed by sucking plant sap from vegetative and fruiting parts of the palm. Affected areas shift from dark green to light green or yellow, with visible spotting that later turns brown, followed by gradual drying, eventually killing the affected tissue. Severe infestation causes premature drying and death of fronds, leading to overall palm weakness, reduced yield, and lower date quality.  

Infestation can be identified by the visible scales spread across fronds, leaflets, and fruits.