Front

What are the most important food crops in the world that are continuously declining due to insect pests?

Back

Bananas.

Front

What is the most serious insect pest of bananas?

Back

Banana weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus).

Front

Name some other pests that affect bananas besides the banana weevil.

Back

Sugarcane weevil, pseudostem weevil, banana scab moths, banana skipper, banana thrips, and banana aphids.

Front

What type of damage do thrips cause to bananas?

Back

Cosmetic damage directly to the fruit, reducing marketability.

Front

What is the life cycle duration of the banana weevil?

Back

41 to 53 days.

Front

What are the characteristics of adult banana weevils?

Back

Shiny reddish brown to black, 10-13 mm long, with a long and curved snout.

Front

How do banana weevils damage banana plants?

Back

They bore into the rhizome and pseudostem, causing yield reductions through plant loss, delayed maturation, and bunch weight reduction.

Front

What are some biological control methods for banana weevil?

Back

Using predators like Dactylosternum spp. and Plaesius javanus.

Front

What is a common method of chemical control for banana weevil?

Back

Spraying with dimethoate, methyl, oxydemeton, or phosphamidon.

Front

What are the symptoms of Odoiporus longicollis infestation in banana plants?

Back

Growth retardation, yellowing and drying of leaves, and collapse of the tree.