Banana ( sacchari) Introduced: Found in Florida in 1963 Seasonality: Banana moth can be found and by the 1970s was considered a pest. year-round, however, higher populations can be seen during the warmer months. Current Infestation: Predominately found throughout south Florida. Hosts: Bamboo, banana, pineapple, sugarcane, and ornamentals (i.e. palms, Description/Biology: The life cycle is dracaenas, ti plants, , etc.). approximate 1² months. Female lay eggs in wounds and crevices in plant Im portance: Not usually a pest in the

Università di Napoli Archives, tissue. Upon landscape, however, can be a nursery Italy, www.forestryimages.org hatching, the young pest requiring management. caterpillars bore into the plant, eventually Dam age: Banana moth caterpillars producing generally feed on decaying plant characteristic piles tissue and detritus, but will burrow into of excrement (frass). and feed on living plant tissue. Feeding Older caterpillars A. van Frankenhuijzen, Plant can occur in the petioles, stem, and roots measure from ½ Protectiion Service, Netherlands of the host plant. Early stages of larval inch to just over tunneling in plant tissue are practically one inch long (1.9 undetectable. to 2.5 cm) and are somewhat transparent. Key characteristics are brown patches on its top and dark brown —breathing pores“ on its sides. Pupae are found inside plant tissue at the end of feeding tunnels. Empty cocoons can be found protruding from the stems of infested plants. The adult moths are small, about ² inch long (1.0 to Advanced damage includes leaves 1.5 cm), and wilting and complete plant collapse. generally dark Beware that there are many causes of grayish brown similar types of plant damage by other with a small, organisms or natural events. Only by black spot on the forewing. They are dissecting the plant is diagnosis nocturnal, and are attracted to damaged confirmed. and stressed plants.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, IFAS, FLORIDA A. & M. UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM, AND BOARDS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COOPERATING.

Banana Moth (Opogona sacchari) In bamboo palms ( spp.) Grower - Management of banana moth the caterpillars typically feed at the plant can be very difficult because once it has base where the aerial roots enter the soil. been detected, damage is usually In a few extensive and the pest is very difficult to cases, they control. A systemic insecticide will likely have be necessary. Products that contain a damaged neonicotinoid insecticide such as landscape imidacloprid (Marathon 60W P or II) may coconut help control this pest. Entomopathogenic palms in nematodes such as Steinernema south carpocapsae have been used to control Florida. this pest with varying degrees of success. Look for holes along W ebsites: the trunk http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/ with some pdf/IP-24.pdf sap bleeding (other factors http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/ can cause /Opogona_sacchari/ the same damage). Inspect for holes in OPOGSC_ds.pdf plant stems. Infested tissue will feel soft. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/CN010

Managem ent: To reduce banana moth damage, avoid plant stress such as over pruning, poor plant nutrition, over

crowding in nurseries, over watering, drought conditions, herbicide damage, and stem and trunk wounds. Never drive

nails into plants and use weed trimmers around plants with caution. If plants are known to be infested, remove and

destroy the plant. Follow good sanitation practices in nurseries. Intercrop susceptible plants with plants that are not

susceptible to this pest. Authors: Adrian Hunsberger, UF/IFAS, Miami-Dade Extension Homeowner and Professional - Banana Kim Gabel, UF/IFAS, Monroe Extension Catharine Mannion, UF/IFAS, TREC Homestead moth infestations are rarely found in the Eileen Buss, UF/IFAS, Entomology Dept., Gainesville landscape and, therefore, do not usually Lyle Buss, UF/IFAS, Entomology Dept., Gainesville require treatment. Bt (Bacillus Photo Credits: Università di Napoli Archives, Italy, thuringiensis) products can be effective if www.forestryimages.org; A. van Frankenhuijzen, Plant sprayed into the tunnels. Protectiion Service, Netherlands; UF/IFAS, Rita Duncan and Adrian Hunsberger

August 2006

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