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Banana weevil borer

Cosmopolites sordidus
Banana weevil borers, also known as banana weevil or banana root borer, are found throughout the coastal banana growing areas of New South Wales, Queensland and the Ord River Irrigation area of WA. Economic losses from banana weevil borers varies with plant growth rates.  In the cooler areas of south-east Queensland and New South Wales where growth rates are slow, it is more difficult to maintain a high level of plantation hygiene, as such banana weevil borers can become a major pest causing significant economic losses.
Banana weevil boorer

 

Description

Adult banana weevil borers are initially reddish-brown before eventually turning black with a pronounced snout and hard shells measuring 10-12 mm long. Nocturnal in nature they hide during the day and rarely fly, therefore spread is largely through the introduction of infested plant material.
 
Eggs are laid in the base of the pseudostem, which then hatch approximately eight days later. Upon hatching the larvae burrow into the corms below ground creating tunnels and causing damage to the banana pseudostem. Symptoms include reduced plant growth, yellowing of the leaves and weak or dying suckers. Severe tunnelling can render plants weak, causing them to be easily blown over under windy conditions. Affected plants often have smaller bunch sizes and small fruit.

Often poor growth associated with banana weevil borer damage can be mis-diagnosed as other issues such as burrowing nematodes which also hinder growth, making it hard to determine if banana weevil borers are the sole cause of poor plant vigour.

Control

An integrated approach to management is essential given the development of insecticide resistance, including;

  • Use of clean plant material – ideally tissue cultured plant
  • Remove all old corms if replanting back into old banana plantings and allow at least six months fallow
  • Regularly monitor banana weevil borer activity by baiting adults and/or assess corms for damage
  • Application of a registered insecticide once maximum thresholds are reached
  • Ensure good hygiene by removing trash and debris to reduce breeding sites

Both Confidor® Guard and Movento® Energy are registered for the control of banana weevil borer on Cavendish bananas and Lady Finger bananas when applied as a pseudostem.

Related Products

Movento® Energy Insecticide by Bayer
Vayego Forte Brandtag
 


References

Croplife Australia (2019), ‘Banana Weevil borer (Cosmopolites sordidus) and Rust Thrips (Chaetanaphothrips signipennis)’, https://www.croplife.org.au/resources/programs/resistance-management/banana-banana-weevil-borer-and-rust-thrips-2/

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland (2017), ‘Banana Weevil Borer’, https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/agriculture/plants/fruit-vegetable/insect-pests/banana-weevil-borer

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (2018), ‘Pest Management of bananas in the ORIA’, https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/print/node/2773

Jackson, G (2017), ‘Banana Weevil’, Pacific Pests and Pathogens fact sheet, Pestnet http://www.pestnet.org/fact_sheets/banana_weevil_109.htm

Treverrow, N (2003), ‘Banana Weevil Borer’, NSW Agriculture Agfact H6.AE, 1 third edition https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/120052/banana-weevil-borer.pdf