Banana fruit caterpillar
Bruno Pinese & Rod Elder, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
Adapted from; Pinese, B. and Piper, R. (1994) Bananas: Insect and mite management.
Description
Adult
Adults are medium to large moths measuring 50-60 mm across the wings. The darker forewings are dull grey-brown in colour with a dark brown V-shaped area on the fore margins. The hind wings are uniform light brown-grey.
Immature stages
The drab grey-brown larvae have two pairs of black marks on the top of the body and grow to about 60 mm when fully grown. There are 2 pairs of black markings on the rear dorsal surface.
Life history
There are 6 larval instars totalling about 6 weeks; pupation occurs in secluded area among trash at the base of plants. and takes about 4 weeks. The total life cycle takes about 3 months.
Distribution
Outbreaks of the pest have been confined to South eastern Queensland.
Host range
Extensive host range; bananas and citrus are the main commercial crops affected.
Management
Importance
Minor and sporadic. Usually attacks bunches at the edges of a plantation near scrub or rainforest.
Damage
Larvae feed on both foliage and fruit. Large larvae feed deep into the fruit while smaller, younger larvae feed on the rind of immature fruit causing irregular shaped brown patches of damage to exposed fruit surfaces. The damage is more severe and visible that that caused by the banana scab moth - damage that tends to be shallower and confined to the underside of the fruit where it joins the bunch stalk. Because of their large size, one or two larvae can destroy all the fruit on the bunch.
Action level
Examine bunches on 100 trees in known hot spot areas of the crop. Spray if more than 5 out of 100 bunches are infested. Bunches in rows adjacent to native vegetation are usually more at risk and treatment should be directed to these areas.
Control methods
Chemical
No specific controls are usually required since bunch treatments to control sugar cane bud moth and rust thrips provide adequate control of banana fruit caterpillar.
Recommended chemicals
Endosulfan. Note: This information was correct at the time of publication. However, it is the user's responsibility to ensure that registered agricultural chemicals are used in accordance with legal requirements. (See Further information). Always read the label.
Further information
- Infopest CD-ROM contains current national information on registered agricultural chemicals and is available from Infopest, DPI&F, GPO Box 46, Brisbane, Qld. 4001 or by email from infopest@dpi.qld.gov.au
- Pinese, B. and Piper, R. (1994) Bananas: Insect and mite management. Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Brisbane.
- Agrilink Tropical Banana Information Kit - RRP $95 + $9.50 GST (Total $104.50) provides information on all aspects of growing and marketing tropical bananas in Queensland. It is available from the Agrilink website or office (phone 1800 677 640) or the DPI&F Shop On-line.
- DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 - local call 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday (non-Queensland residents phone 07 3404 6999). E-mail: callweb@dpi.qld.gov.au
- For information on Tropical Banana production
Phone or call in to:
The Client Service Centre
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone Road
SOUTH JOHNSTONE Q 4859
Ph 07 4064 1130 Fax 4064 22
Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.
Last updated 04 February 2004
