Need Help Identifying And Eliminating Something That Is Killing My Yucca

Question

Something seems to be eating and killing the growth spike of my yucca. See attached photos. If i break open the growth spike, i see some small brown worms (?) and feel a sticky substance. I see a clear, crunchy material all over the plant. Any suggestions for remedy? Thank you

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Answer 1

Remove the worst leaves that are brown or spotted. The worms do not look like the yucca weevil larvae or even leafminer larvae, but it could be a different weevil. The clear stuff at the base could be dried honeydew but that is produced by aphids and scale, neither of which looks like those worms. In case there are scale or aphids, too, spray the remaining leaves with Neem oil in the morning or evening, so as not to spray in the heat of the day.

Here is more info about weevils:

https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/INVERT/yuccaweevil.html

https://cales.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/pestsofagavesandyuccas.html

https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/INVERT/ID/idblvinwee.html

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/yucca/yucca-plant-bugs.htm