Pests of Banana :: Major Pests
3. Banana aphid: Pentalonia nigronervosa (Aphididae: Hemiptera)
Distribution and status: India, Sri Lanka, Australia
Host range: Banana, cardamom , Alocasia sp, Colocasia sp, caladium
Damage symptoms
Aphids are seen in colonies on leaf axils and pseudostems. It causes indirect damage by transmitting the notorious virus disease bunchy top.Green streaks initially appear on the secondary viens on the vental side of the lamina. The affected leaves become brittle, small and petioles get elongated. Crown composed of narrow stunted leaves gives buncy top appearance. |
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Bionomics
Brown adult has black-veined wings. Aphids live in colonies within leaf-axils or tender leaves and at base of the stem at the ground level. Adults reproduce parthenogenetically 35-50 nymphs during a life span of 27-37 days. Nymphs undergo four instars during 8-12 days nymphal period. Life cycle completed in 12-15 days, about 30-40 overlapping generations completed in a year.
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Management
- Spray monocrotophos 36 SL 1.5 - 2.0 L methyl demeton 25 EC or dimethoate 30 EC 3.0-4.0 L in 1500-2000 L water per ha towards the crown and pseudostem base.
- Inject pseudostem with monorotophos 36 SL @1 ml in 4 ml of water per tree at 45 days interval from the 3rd month till flowering.
- Avoid monocrotophos injection after flowering.
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