The more you learn about the pests that can cause problems for your plants, the less 'worried' you will become. Please understand that your best weapons against these pests have little to do with creepy crawlies, but everything to do with plant health, vigor, and balance. Providing good growing conditions for your plants is essential, and that means a fast-draining (very porous) potting medium, ideal sunlight conditions, a balanced and conservative fertilizer program, proper watering, etc. If you are truly apprehensive about pests, then perhaps you should consider doing what I do: keep your plants inside all year 'round. I've not had any kind of critter problem in many years. Any newcomer to the collection is treated to an isolation period, sprays with rubbing alcohol and water, and lots of scrutiny until I allow it to share shelf space with my older plants.

I'm unable to see the photos, but it doesn't sound good. I would remove the affected palms and replace them with something else. Don't put Foxtails back in that same spot! And watermelon, Foxtails are not multi-trunked palms, they don't clump. When you see multiples, those are created in the nursery by placing 2, 3, or more seeds or seedlings in the same can. As they grow, their trunks merge and it appears as though they are a clustering palm.

OK...links with photos here....(3rd photo shows nudules that seem to be more prevalent on the trunk of this tree than the others). http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=248783149/PictureID=8822596012/a=104491102_104491102/t_=104491102 http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=248783149/PictureID=8819932012/a=104491102_104491102/t_=104491102 http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=248783149/PictureID=8819933012/a=104491102_104491102/t_=104491102 At least I think these are the links. The one to the whole album is below....last 3 are the palms. Here is a link that might be useful: Album w/ Photos...last 3 are palm.

This disease is basically a variant of lethal yellowing that attacks date palms. Some sabals are infected, but their wide range of genes means that it will probably not become an epidemic, as opposed to imported palms, that are largely from a few populations (date palms, etc). Most of our date palms are old grove palms, and have very similar genes. In spite of that, US-98 is literally lined with these palms, as is South Florida Ave. (our main drag). Lethal yellowing has been present here for a while, and we still have, in my opinion, some of the most beautiful date palms in Florida. The planthopper (myndus crudus)is the same one that spreads lethal yellowing to coconut palms. In regard to the Washingtonias being attacked by palm weevils, you can drive down Cleveland Heights, as I do every day after work, and literally see hundreds of them, along with a skyduster on Hallam. The Tree Saver they mention is usually oxytetracycline, an anti-biotic. They mention Asian Scale devastating Sago Palms, but almost every house on my street has at least one in their front yard. I guess my point is that, while there are environmental threats to our trees, not all of them are dead or dying. Date Palms are moderately susceptible to the disease, and the threat is amplified by the genetics of the population being so similar. None of mine have been bothered, but they are much different genetically from the plants on the avenues because they are grown from seed.