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

Biology, monitoring and management of banana

aphid – vector of banana bunchy top virus


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


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.

Major hosts

Musa (banana and plantain), Musa textilis (manila hemp or abaca),

Colocasia esculenta (taro)

Host plants

Cardamom Cocoyam Ginger

Musaceae, Araceae, Commelinaceae, Zingiberacea


First

Second

Third

Fourth

(1.5 mm)Winged

(migrant)

Up to 30 generations

per year;

Around 25C is best temp

for growth

Life cycle of the banana aphid

Live birth

Parthenogenetic


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?)


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


Aphid abundance

Wet season

Dry season


Aphid abundance on banana and plantain


Banana

Plantain

Aphid abundance on banana and

plantain varieties


0 15 30 45 60

Lo

wer

Mid

dle

Up

per

Can

op

y s

trata

Aphids per stratum

Plantain

Banana

Within-plant distribution of

banana aphid

on banana and plantain


Monitoring aphid abundance on plants


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

> 24 ant species in 5 families

Ants found on banana/plantain(Central Africa)Pheidole sp. Technomyrmex sp.


Χ2 = 125.3 P < 0.0001 df (1, 860)

Aphids and ants co-occurrence on banana

and plantain


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.


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

Summary and research needs


Thank you

Biology, monitoring and management of banana aphid – vector of banana bunchy top virus

Technology

Transcript of Biology, monitoring and management of banana aphid – vector of banana bunchy top virus