BANANA ROOT WEEVIL
Crop: banana
Behavior: This pest prefers humid places, near the ratoons, sheaths, and plant leftovers. It has a nocturnal habit and is a gregarious insect. The females drill a hole between the leaf sheath insertion and the rhizome for laying the eggs. The larvae hatch and form galleries in the rhizome and pseudostem of the banana tree, causing direct damage by weakening of the rhizomes and consequent plant fall as well as indirect damage by favoring the attack of opportunist fungi, such as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense that causes the Panama disease.
Life cycle: incubation period: > 5 to 8 days; larval period: > 28 to 42 days; pupal period: > 5 to 8 days; adult period: > 1 to 2 years
Adult of banana root weevil Photo: Marilene Fancelli
Larva of banana root weevil in banana tree rhizome Photo: José Mauricio Simões Bento
Galleries in banana tree rhizome caused by larvae of banana root weevil Photo: Zilton José Maciel Cordeiro
Banana plant overturned as a result of attack by the banana boy. Photo: UFMG
Latria is a biological insecticide and acaricide composed of the microorganism Beauveria bassiana.