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Tracing the Path of Lethal Bronzing
How Gary Kennemer Uncovered the Disease’s True Spread
Lethal Bronzing is now known across Texas, Florida, the Caribbean, and coastal regions affected by rapid palm decline. But long before universities or state agencies understood the threat, Gary Kennemer was already tracing its origins, spreading patterns, and global movement.
How Lethal Bronzing Spreads (The Leafhopper Vector)
When early cases emerged in Texas, Gary immediately recognized the disease was not born here. Using a combination of professional experience, field observation, and international collaboration, he began mapping potential points of origin. His work led him through:
- South Texas coastal regions
- Yucatán Peninsula storm pathways
- Central American regions affected by hurricanes
- South American coastal vectors
- Historical pathways of Lethal Yellowing spread
This investigation revealed that the disease-bearing leafhopper vector likely traveled from regions south of the U.S. during severe tropical weather cycles. Gary’s unique ability to link weather events, insect migration patterns, and palm pathology allowed him to map a clear picture of how the disease arrived in Texas.
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How Lethal Bronzing Spreads (The Leafhopper Vector)
Through his testing and sample submissions, Gary triggered the very first quarantine zones in:
- Kemah
- Shoreacres
- River Oaks
- Galveston
- Multiple communities along the upper Texas coast
These quarantines were based directly on Gary’s diagnostic work, field sampling, and collaboration with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Texas Department of Agriculture. His data provided the foundation for the earliest regulatory responses.
As the disease progressed across the Gulf Coast, Gary’s investigations and sample sharing became invaluable to university labs and federal agencies. His cooperation with:
- USDA
- APHIS (Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service)
- Texas Department of Agriculture
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
- University of Florida IFAS
- PalmQuest research initiatives
helped connect the dots between cases across states and even across countries.
His findings helped confirm that Lethal Bronzing, like Lethal Yellowing, was vectored by a related leafhopper species—one capable of transmitting a phytoplasma that kills palms from the inside out. The similarity in symptom progression, combined with the distinct copper-bronze coloration of infected crowns, validated the name Lethal Bronzing.
How TPPD Became Lethal Bronzing
Because of Gary Kennemer’s leadership, persistence, and firsthand investigations spanning years, the palm community finally understood:
- the disease is not limited to Phoenix palms,
- it is not exclusive to Texas,
- the pathogen is vectored, not soil-borne,
- and its identifying symptom is the bronze crown collapse.
This critical clarity reshaped how states respond to outbreaks—creating more accurate quarantines, better public education, and more effective treatment recommendations.
Today, when researchers, arborists, landscapers, and palm growers discuss the disease, they use the correct, globally recognized name: Lethal Bronzing.
Its origin as a term—and as a clearly defined disease—traces back to one source: Gary Kennemer, the pioneer who identified the earliest cases, challenged the incorrect naming, mapped the threat, cooperated with agencies across the Americas, and provided the foundational work used by universities and regulators today.
What Homeowners Need to Know
Lethal Bronzing can move silently through your neighborhood before you see symptoms. Once a palm shows significant bronzing or a collapsed spear, it cannot be saved. For this reason, prevention is critical, especially for high-value or mature palms. If you notice bronzing, thinning, or strange discoloration, schedule an evaluation immediately. Early detection is the only chance to protect the rest of your palms.