This Presentation from Dr. M. Thippaiah, Professor of Entomology is about insect pests of Banana and their Management for UG students

1. Insect pests of banana and their management
Dr M Thippaiah
Professor
Department of Entomology
University of Agricultural Sciences
GKVK, Bangalore- 65

2. India is the largest producer of banana in the world and about
40 million tonnes of fruits produced in India
Banana occupies first position in India with annual production of
14 million tonnes from 4 lakh ha. area.
About 41 insect pests have been found associated with banana in India,
which includes
 Insects
 Mites
 Molluscans etc.,
Dr. M. Thippaiah

3. Among these insect pests are
Banana weevils i.e. Rhizome weevil and Pseudostem weevil
Aphids
Leaf eating caterpillars
Fruit scarring beetle are considered as of national importance,
whereas others are of minor and regional significance
Dr. M. Thippaiah

4. Major insect pests of banana are classified as
A. Borer pests
Rhizome weevil Cosmopolites sordidus
Curculionidae ColeopteraPseudostem weevil Odoiporus longicollis
B. Sap feeders
Banana aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa Aphididae Hemiptera
Spiraling white fly Aleurodicus dispersus Aleyrodidae Hemiptera
Citrus mealy bug Planococcus citri Pseudocooccidae Hemiptera
Lace wing bug Stephantis typicus Tingidae Hemiptera
Leaf thrips Helionothrips kadaliphilus
Thripidae Thysanoptera
Flower thrips Thrips florum
Dr. M. Thippaiah

5. C. Leaf feeders
Leaf eating caterpillar Spodoptera litura Noctuidae Lepidoptera
Bihar hairy caterpillar Spilarctia obliqua Arctiidae Lepidoptera
Banana skipper Erionota thrax Hesperiidae Lepidoptera
Hairy caterpillar Euproctis fraterna Lymantridae Lepidoptera
Semilooper Thysanoplusia orichalcea Noctuidae Lepidoptera
Dr. M. Thippaiah

6. A. Borer pests
Dr. M. Thippaiah

7. Banana rhizome weevil : Cosmopolites sordidus
(Curculionidae : Coleoptera)
 It is a major pest of banana
 It is widely distributed in India, South-East Asia, Australia,
The Hawaii Islands, Tropical South Africa, Tropical America
 Adults are small, measuring about 1cm in length, sluggish, elongate
dark brown to black coloured weevil with long curved snout
and antennae
 They have short elytra which are longitudinally striated.
 Newly emerged weevils are reddish -brown in colour Dr. M. Thippaiah

8. Eggs : eggs are laid in small
burrows on root stock
or within the leaf sheath
just above the ground level
I.P - 5-8 days
Grubs : are apodous and yellowish white in colour with reddish coloured head
and bore into the rhizome making zigzag tunnels and bored holes are
plugged with excreta
L.P – 25 days
Pupa : Pupation takes
place with in a
chamber made near the
outer surface of the
rhizome
P.P – 5-6 days
 Adult also make tunnels within the stem and feeding on
its internal tissues
Adult longevity is about one year
Dr. M. Thippaiah

9. Dr. M. Thippaiah

10. Nature and symptom of damage
Both adults and grubs burrow through the rhizome
If infestation at early stage – results in ceasing / stopping growth and
gradual death of the plant
If infestation at later stage – it affects the vigour of the plant and also
yield.
Symptoms
Death of central role of unopened leaves which also called as pipe
The plants show premature withering of outer leaves and drop down
The fruits become under size
When young suckers are attacked they wither and get killed out rightly
It causes losses up to 85% depending on stage of the crop and
infestation Dr. M. Thippaiah

11. Presence of dark coloured tunnel in the rhizome
Dr. M. Thippaiah

12. Tunneling of the banana rhizomes by
the grubs of Cosmopolites sordidus
In advanced stage, rhizome received extensive tunneling
Corm damage
At early stage, infested plants are sickly appearance, and yellow lines
were seen on top leaves
Dr. M. Thippaiah

13. Withering of outer leaves Death of the plant
Dr. M. Thippaiah

14. Weevil infested banana stem Banana suckers infested by weevil
Note – The weevil spreads through infested suckers to different places
Dr. M. Thippaiah

15. Management practices
Select healthy suckers from healthy area i.e. use pest free suckers
for planting
Suckers must be cleaned, trimmed and soaked in any strong
insecticide solution i.e. chlopyriphos solution @ 2.5 ml / lit. before
planting
Commercial pheromone ( Cosmolure) are available, this attract both
male and female adults ( 2 traps / acre or 5 traps / ha) 6 month lure
life span
 The position of the traps should be changed once in a month
 Use of bucket traps for monitoring and also mass trapping of adults
Follow clean cultural practices and maintain the orchard clean
Do not take more than two crops in the same area
Dr. M. Thippaiah

16. Uprooting and burning the affected plants
Apply carbofuran 3G @ 40 gm per pit
or
phorate 10G @ 20-30gm per pit
at the time of planting and irrigate immediately
Water suckers and pseudo suckers from which banana bunches
have been harvested should be removed regularly
In case of post – planting infestation
Spray on the pseudostem and drench around the base of the
plant with chlorpyriphos @ 2 ml / lit. and
After one week spray and drench with malathion @ 2 ml / lit.
Dr. M. Thippaiah

17. Pseudostem weevil : Odoiporus longicollis
(Curculionidae : Coleoptera )
 The weevil could be easily identified even at field level by its clear
morphological characters
 It is robust, reddish brown to black coloured weevil and measures
about 1.3 – 2cm long with elongate snout and antenna
 It occurs throughout the year under field condition
 It is more severe during November - march
It is also a serious pest of banana and widely distributed in all banana
growing areas
Dr. M. Thippaiah

18. Eggs in air chamber Eggs of O. longicollis
Life cycle of the O. longicollis
 Eggs are laid singly at random in the air chamber in the leaf sheath
 The freshly laid egg was translucent elongate oval in shape and later
became yellowish in color
 Ovipositonal slits are made by the female weevil with help of their
snout and laid at the rate of one egg / air chamber
I.P – 3-5 days
Eggs : Adults are mate out side or within the leaf sheath
Dr. M. Thippaiah

19. Larval instars of O. longicollis
 The larva passed through five instars to complete the larval period.
before each moult larva stopped feeding, and boring and became
inactive.
 Freshly emerged larva was yellowish white, apodous, bores
in to the pseudostem making tunnels and cutting holes on its
outer surface L.P – 25-26 days
Larva :
Dr. M. Thippaiah

20. Cocoons of O. longicollis Dorsal and ventral view of pupa
When the larva was about to pupate,
it constructed a cocoon using fibers,
which are arranged spirally.
The interior of cocoon was smoother,
plastered with a dark coloured
secretion
The pupa was exarate type; yellowish
in colour with setae on the head and
base of the rostrum and a tuft of setae
was seen on the anal region.
The head was bent vertically.
The legs held close to the body.
Pupa : Pupate in the tunnel to wards the periphery in a cocoon made from
pieces of fibrous materials of leaf sheath
Dr. M. Thippaiah

21. Differences in the snout punctuation of the female and male adults
of O. logicollis
 Rostral punctuations in case of males were larger in size and raised,
giving the rostral surface a more or less rough appearance
 where as the rostral punctures were smaller in size and devoid of
raised area gave the rostral surface a smooth appearance in case
of females
It has overlapping generation, and it completes 2 life cycle in a year
Dr. M. Thippaiah

22. Both grubs and adults cause heavy damage to the crop during
flowering and bunch formation stage of the crop.
Adult female make holes on pseudostem i.e. by making pin hole with
the help of snout ( 1 egg laid in each air chamber in the pseudostem)
The hatching grubs bores in to the pseudostem and makes tunnels
and feeds on internal content of pseudostem
The tunnelled part decomposes and pseudostem become weak and
easily break in wind especially after flowering stage.
Adults feed on tissue of leaf sheath and also decaying tissue.
Nature and symptoms of damage
The banana pseudostem weevil attack the plant during flowering and
bunch formation stage and cause severe yield loss by preventing
bunch development
Dr. M. Thippaiah

23. Symptoms
The early stage symptoms includes
 The larva bores in the pseudostem, making tunnels within and
cutting holes on its outer surface and also bores in to the peduncle
of the fruit.
 First visible symptom is exudation of jelly like substance from
pseudostem which indicates that weevil and grub activity inside
the stem
 Ooze the resinous substance from pseudostem
 Yellowing and drying of leaves
 Sequential pin holes on pseudostem in a line ( Equal distance, equal
diameter and line arrangement on the stem)
Dr. M. Thippaiah

24. Dr. M. Thippaiah
Damage symptom of pseudostem weevil on banana plant

25. In later stages of symptoms
 Plant show extensive tunneling, and tunneled part decomposes and
pseudostem becomes weak and hallow and easily breaks at apical
region due to gush of wind
 Reduction in leaf size and bunch size
 In bunched plants – The peduncle decays resulting in the
immature ripening of fruits
 In plants which are near to bunching –
The flower primodia are decayed with
in the pseudostem itself.
 If an affected pseudostem is split open a number of larvae, pupae
and adults can be seen inside.
Dr. M. Thippaiah

26.  All commonly cultivated varieties of banana, namely
Elakki bale
Nendran
Poovan
Red banana
Are highly susceptible to attack of this pest.
The gum exudation on the pseudostem Blackened mass coming
out from pseudostem
Dr. M. Thippaiah

27. Small pin holes on the main stem The grubs of O. longicollis bore
into the pseudostem making
tunnels
Dr. M. Thippaiah

28. Adult and Grub feeding on the
pseudostem and decaying tissues
Lodging of affected plant due
to wind
Dr. M. Thippaiah

29. IPM practices for pseudostem weevil
I. Cultural control
Field sanitation is important
 Weed free cultivation helps to reduce the spread of the pest
 Removal old and dried leaves periodically to reduce the hiding
places for the weevil
After harvesting, cut the plants at the ground level and treat them
with chlorpyriphos@ 0.1 %
Prune the side suckers every month
Avoid fresh planting in infested areas
Dr. M. Thippaiah

30. The pseudostem after harvest should be made to dry quickly
and do not dump the infested materials in the manure pits.
They should be chopped into pieces and burnt it
Cover the cut surface of pseudostem with wet earth
Use clean pest free planting materials. Dip the suckers in
0.1% quinalphos emulsion before planting
In case of severe infestation uproot and burn the plants
To monitor the banana pseudostem weevil activity in a
garden by keeping banana stem trap
Longitudinally spilt stem trap @ 10-15 traps / ha
Dr. M. Thippaiah

31. The weevils can be trapped in the split open pseudostem
( 1-2 feet long) and placed in the plantation between plants facing
the cut surface to the soil
adult weevils attract to this split pseudostem and also migrate the weevils
from banana plant to split pseudostem
Later collected by hand and destroy them
or
Longitudinal split trap ( 30cm) - swab the cut surface of the
longitudinal split trap with 20gm of the either entomopathogenic
fungus, Beauveria bassiana or Metarhizium anisopliae
or
Entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis indica @
1 X 108 spores / ml
keep the split traps near the banana plant facing cut surface to the soil
Dr. M. Thippaiah

32. II. Biological control : To encourage natural enemies
Two species of earwigs feeding on larvae and pupae
Acarid mite parasiting the larvae and adults
Metarhizium anisopliae an entomopathogenic fungus, More than
90 % mortality under laboratory condition
III. Chemical control
Swab the pseudostem with chlorpyriphos 0.1% mix with wetting
agent at monthly interval starting from the 4th month of planting
until shooting to protect the plants from infestation
or
Spraying monocrotophos @ 1 ml / lit. of water + 1 ml wetting agent
on the pseudostem after removal of dried leaves from the plant
Dr. M. Thippaiah

33.  Currently stem injection of monocrotophos 3ml + 5ml of water
totally 8 ml and injected at two levels, first level - 4 ml each at
1feet above the ground level
 Second level - remaining 4 ml at 3-4 feet above the ground level in
slanting position in the opposite direction at
30 to 450 degree angle
Dr. M. Thippaiah

34.  This needs to be done at monthly interval from 5 to 8th month
depending on the need
 High concentration of the spray fluid may cause the pseudostem
to split at the point of injection
 Injection needle should reach only 2-3 leaf sheaths and without
touching the centre core Dr. M. Thippaiah

35. B. Sap feeders
Dr. M. Thippaiah

36. Banana aphid: Pentalonia nigronervosa
(Aphididae: Hemiptera)
High humidity and moderate temp. are more suitable for population increase
Aphids are small to medium sized, shiny dark brown to reddish in colour and
six segmented antenna and prominent dark veined wings
It is a important vector of virus causing diseases such as
Bunchy top disease of banana
Katte disease of Cardamom
Dr. M. Thippaiah

37. Dr. M. Thippaiah

38.  It lives in colonies within leaf axils or tender leaves and at base of
the culm at the ground level
 Adults reproduce by giving birth to young ones, 35-50 nymphs by a
female during a life span 27-37 days
 Nymphs under go four instars of 8-12 days duration
 Total life cycle takes place 12-15 days
 About 30-40 overlapping generations are completed in a year under
South Indian conditions
Nature of damage
Both nymphs and adults suck the sap from lower portion of leaf results
in progressive leaf dwarfing and curling
 And also suck the sap from the outer base of pseudostem, resulting in
reduction of growth and vigour.
Dr. M. Thippaiah

39. Symptoms
Leaves are typically bunched together at the apex forming a
congested rosette appearance hence the name called
‘Banana bunchy top virus’(BBTV)
At later stages the peduncle of the bunch is elongated and the size
of the fruits is greatly reduced with poor development
Aphids present on the leaves
Bunchy top appearance of leaves
Dr. M. Thippaiah

40. Management practices
Select the planting material from pest free areas i.e. Use virus free
suckers for planting
Regular monitoring is important and to destroy bunchy top affected
plants before spraying
Spray monocrotophos 36 SL @ 1.5 - 2.0 lit.
or
methyl demeton 25 EC
or
dimethoate 30 EC @ 3.0-4.0 lit. in 1500-2000 lit. water per ha
towards the crown and pseudostem base.
Dr. M. Thippaiah

41. To encourage activity of predators
Scymnus coccivora
Cheilomenes sexmaculata
Other Coccinellids
Chrysoperla zastrowii
Entomopathogenic fungi – Beauveria bassiana
Inject pseudostem with monorotophos 36 SL @1 ml in 4 ml of water
per plant at 45 days interval from the 3rd month till flowering.
Avoid monocrotophos injection after flowering.
Dr. M. Thippaiah

42. Spiraling white fly : Aleurodicus dispersus
(Aleurodidae : Hemiptera )
The adults of both sexes are winged; the wings are covered with a
white dust.
The whiteflies were found infesting on lower surface of leaves.
As a result of sucking the sap, leaf turned yellow and dry up at a later
stage.
(Detailed refer under Guava)
Dr. M. Thippaiah

43. Citrus mealy bug: Planococcus citri
(Pseudococcidae : Hemiptera)
 P. Citri is commonly known as citrus mealy bug.
 Adults are slightly elongate, ovate, covered with white mealy wax secretion.
 When the nymphs were newly hatched there was no wax coating
but gradually the wax coating appeared and covered the nymphs entirely
 The mealy bugs were found infesting
ventral surface of leaves.
 As a result of sucking the sap from
leaves, the leaves dried up .
(Detailed refer under Citrus)
Dr. M. Thippaiah

44. Lacewing bugs: Stephanitis typicus
(Tingidae: Hemiptera)
Adults are small, dull-coloured or white coloured bugs with transparent
shiny lace-like reticulate wings, nymphs are black coloured.
 Both nymphs and adults feeding on sap on undersurface of leaves in
colonies and cause discolouration of the leaves
 Damaged leaves show greyish yellow spots and infested plants shows
stunted growth
Dr. M. Thippaiah

45. Management practices
 Spray monocrotophos 36 SL @ 1.5 - 2.0 lit.
or
methyl demeton 25 EC
or
dimethoate 30 EC 3.0-4.0 lit. in 1500-2000 lit. water per ha
towards the crown and pseudostem base.
 Inject pseudostem with monorotophos 36 SL @1 ml in 4 ml of
water per plant at 45 days interval from the 3rd month till flowering.
 Avoid monocrotophos injection after flowering.
Dr. M. Thippaiah

46. Adult leaf thrips, Helionothrips kadaliphilus
Leaf thrips: Helionothrips kadaliphilus
(Thripidae : Thysanoptera )
The nymphs and adults were found infesting lower side of banana leaves.
due to lacerating and sucking of sap, leaves had white patches and further
continuous feeding led to leaf drying.
Dr. M. Thippaiah

47. Flower thrips : Thrips florum
( Thripidae :Thysanoptera )
It is a small dark brown
coloured thrips, thorax broader
than head and the abdomen
having stripes
Both nymphs and adults infest flower tips before bud emergence.
The infestation on fruits resulted in elevated black spots.
Dr. M. Thippaiah

48. C. Leaf feeders
Dr. M. Thippaiah

49. Spodoptera litura larvae feeding on unopened leaf
Leaf eating caterpillar: Spodoptera litura
(Noctuidae : Lepidoptera)
 The larvae are gregarious at early stages and scrape the green tissues,
thus skeletonize the leaves.
The grown up larvae feed by making holes on leaves
 Tender leaves are preferred for feeding to then older leaves
The larva hides in the unopened leaves and in the leaf axils during day
time and feed at night
Spray any contact insecticide can control the pest
It appears sporadically as a serious pest
Dr. M. Thippaiah

50. Larvae feeding on chlorophyll content of the leaf
Bihar hairy caterpillar: Spilarctia obliqua
(Arctiidae : Lepidoptera)
 The young caterpillar in their gregarious stage fed on chlorophyll
content of the under surface of leaves and skeletonized them.
 The grown up caterpillars disperse and defoliate the leaves.
Dr. M. Thippaiah

51. Banana Skipper : Erionota thrax
(Hesperiidae : Lepidoptera)
Banana skipper butterfly is a native of North-East India, Southern
China and South East Asia
 The adult male has a wingspan of 70-75 mm, and the female
wing span of about 80 mm.
 The butterfly is brown in colour with three yellow spots on the
forewings. Dr. M. Thippaiah

52. Eggs : are laid singly or in groups
of up to 25, mostly on the
underside of banana leaves.
I.P - 5-8 days
Larva : The caterpillars, which are pale green in
colour with a distinctive shiny black coloured head
There are five larval instars L.P - 30 days
All instars except the first instar is covered in a
white waxy powder;
this is the fact that later instar caterpillars close their
rolls more securely than younger ones, allows them
to survive from heavy rains.
Caterpillars grow to 6 cm.
Pupa : Pupation occurs inside the leaf roll,
and takes about 10 days
Adult
Dr. M. Thippaiah

53. Nature of damage
Infestation is common during dry spell.
Larvae cut a strip of leaf and roll it into a distinctive leaf roll.
The larva, covered in a whitish powder, turns into a pupa or cocoon inside the roll.
Rolled leaves originating from the midrib of plants are good indicators of banana
skipper damage.
Leaves that have been damaged by leaf rollers should not be removed, as they are
needed for photosynthesis.
Dr. M. Thippaiah

54. Damage done by the caterpillar of the banana skipper
Dr. M. Thippaiah

55. IPM practices for banana skipper
Cultural control
 Handpick the leaf rolls containing the caterpillars and destroy.
 Collect eggs and caterpillars and place them in screened boxes close
to banana plants with rolled leaves.
The screen allows the parasites to escape
.
Biological control
Pacific Islands affected by the banana skipper had successfully used
biological control agents.
For example, natural parasitoids such as the
egg parasitoid - Ooencyrtus erionotae
larval parasitoid - Apanteles erionotae
In Hawaii, both these parasitoids were introduced and shows good effect
Dr. M. Thippaiah

56. Chemical control
 If pesticides are necessary, use botanical (plant-derived pesticides)
sprays first, as these may cause less harm to natural enemies, and
cost less than synthetic commercial products.
 Use neem, derris, pyrethrum or chilli. If these are used, add soap to
help the chemical reach the caterpillars within the rolled leaves.
 Neem based insecticide i.e. azadirachtin @ 1%
or dichlorvos @ 1ml to control the pest
Alternatively, use of commercial biopesticides -
e.g., spinosad (the product is called Success)
or
Bt -Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (the product is called Dipel).
or
Synthetic pyrethoids are likely to be effective, but will also kills the
natural enemies
Dr. M. Thippaiah

57. Hairy caterpillar, Euproctis fraterna larva on the leaf
Hairy caterpillar: Euproctis fraterna
(Lymantriidae : Lepidoptera)
The larva was light bluish brown with dark brown spots
and feed on the leaves.
Dr. M. Thippaiah

58. Thysanoplusia orichalcea larva on leaf
Semilooper : Thysanoplusia orichalcea
(Noctuidae : Lepidoptera)
The caterpillar fed on leaves and defoliate the plants
Dr. M. Thippaiah