Global distribution of banana aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa,Host plants,Life cycle of the banana aphid,Natural enemies associated with the banana aphid
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Biology, monitoring and management of banana aphid – vector of banana bunchy top virus
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
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
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
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
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)
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
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?)
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
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
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
11. Aphid abundance on banana and
plantain varieties
Plantain
Banana
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
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
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
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
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
15. Aphids and ants co-occurrence on banana
and plantain
Χ2 = 125.3 P < 0.0001 df (1, 860)
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
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.
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org
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
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture – Institut international d’agriculture tropicale – www.iita.org