I had the same thing, and any time you see a queen which looks sickly at the top, if you look you will see the growth at the bottom. Looks like a fungus. Anyway from what I've learned, once it gets in there it is irreversible, and it slowly kills the tree as water/nutrients are not allowed to the fronds. Ours was cut down about a year and a half ago and I still find some of that "stuff" that was around the bottom where the tree stood. (The spores (i think) remain in the soil so you can't plant another palm there. It's bad stuff. I believe when I researched it, and I am not making this up, it is called "butt rot" so you may want to do a search.

But most likely you'll need to say goodbye to that tree as I did. (sorry!) And since Charley I decided no queens anyway as they were the ones quickest to fall. Maybe because of all the butt rot! Anyway look that up and see if it matches what you have.

I would venture to say that your palm is beyond help. Palms are the target of several pests, virus, what-have-you. The application of the ant bait and the decline of the palm are most likely coincidental.

It does sound as if you have Ganoderma Butt Rot and you need to remove the tree before it infects others in the area. You will not be able to plant another palm in its place because the fungus is in the soil and it will infect it.

Regina

Here is a link that might be useful: Ganoderma