Global distribution of banana aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa,Host plants,Life cycle of the banana aphid,Natural enemies associated with the banana aphid

1. Biology, monitoring and management of banana
aphid – vector of banana bunchy top virus
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org

2. Global distribution of banana aphid
Pentalonia nigronervosa
(source: CPC 2007)
Putative area of origin: Papua New Guinea, Eastern Indonesia
Little is known about timing invasion outside of its area of origin
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3. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org

4. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org

5. Host plants
Musaceae, Araceae, Commelinaceae, Zingiberacea
Major hosts
Musa (banana and plantain), Musa textilis (manila hemp or abaca),
Colocasia esculenta (taro)
Minor hosts (at least 14)
Xanthosoma mafaffa (cocoyam), Zingiber officinale (ginger),
Aframomum daniellii, Costus afer, Alocasia spp, Alpinia spp,
Elettaria cardamomum (cardamom) , Heliconia, Strelizia reginae
(Queens bird-of-paradise), Hedychium coronarium, Canna spp.
Cardamom Cocoyam Ginger
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6. Life cycle of the banana aphid
Second
Live birth
First Third
Parthenogenetic
Up to 30 generations
per year;
Fourth
Around 25C is best temp
Winged (1.5 mm)
for growth
(migrant)
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7. Control options
 Very few attempts at biological control – no
serious efforts at classical biological control
 Discouraging results from releases of two non-
naturally associated (Aphidius colemani,
Lysiphlebus testaseipes) parasitoids in South
Pacific
 No serious attempt to develop entomopathogens
 Host plant resistance – not explored
 Several insecticides have been recommended:
 Several organophosphate and carbamate
 Imidacloprid – non-systemic
 No option for small growers; cause
secondary pest outbreaks (e.g.,
mealybugs)
 Other methods (hot water treatment of suckers?)
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8. Aphid and BBTD survey in Central Africa
 Distribution of BBTD,
severity, virus strains,
spread, etc. – L. Kumar
presentation
 Distribution, abundance,
associated natural
enemies of the aphid
 Farmers knowledge of
the disease and the
aphid and their methods
of control
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org

9. Aphid abundance
Wet season
Dry season
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10. Aphid abundance on banana and plantain
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11. Aphid abundance on banana and
plantain varieties
Plantain
Banana
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12. Within-plant distribution of
banana aphid
on banana and plantain
Plantain
Upper
Banana
Canopy strata
Middle
Lower
0 15 30 45 60
Aphids per stratum
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13. Monitoring aphid abundance on plants
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14. Ants found on banana/plantain
Pheidole sp. (Central Africa) Technomyrmex sp.
> 24 ant species in 5 families
Genus Frequency Genus Frequency
Pheidole spp 77 Myrmicaria opaciventris 5
Technomyrmex spp 56 Solenopsis geminata 5
Monomorium spp 47 Pyramica spp 4
Paratrechina spp 44 Cerapachys sp 2
Camponotus spp 27 Dorylus sp 2
Crematogaster spp 22 Meranoplus sp 2
Tetramorium spp 20 Oecophylla sp 1
Tapinoma spp 14 Plagiolepis sp 1
Lepisiota spp 11 Cataulacus sp 1
Unknown 9 Polyrachis sp 1
Wasmannia auropunctata 6 Anochetus sp 1
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15. Aphids and ants co-occurrence on banana
and plantain
Χ2 = 125.3 P < 0.0001 df (1, 860)
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16. Natural enemies associated with the
banana aphid
 Few predators associated with aphid; several species of
coccinelids
 Occasional aphid mummies –infected with
entomopathogenic fungi – most likely a Neozygites sp. - in
Cameroon and Gabon.
 Surprisingly, no parasitoids were obtained from aphids, but
more detailed regular monitoring need to be conducted.
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17. Summary and research needs
 Banana aphid is widespread
 Important in local spread of BBTV
 Knowledge gaps to fill:
 Aphid dispersal: active, ants
 Aphid diversity; association with BBTD strains
 Aphid abundance and freq of viriliferous aphis
 Exploit variation in banana/plantain genotype suitability to the aphid
to identify sources of resistance
 Classical biological control – search natural enemies (predators;
parasitoid, entomopathogens) in area of origin – recently initiated
 Ant control where feasible – commercial plantation (ant baits
developed but more testing); reduce aphid populations & dispersal
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18. Thank you
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