Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest Management: Symptoms, Treatment, Chemical, Biological, and Organic Control

The Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest, Aleurodicus dispersus, belonging to Family Aleyrodidae of the Order Hemiptera, is a major pest of banana crops that feeds on the sap of banana plants, causes damage to the leaves, stunts growth, and reduces yield. The Banana Spiralling Whitefly is known for its rapid reproduction rate, making it difficult to manage once it infests a banana crop. The pest is native to Central America.

The impact on the banana industry is significant, leading to economic losses and increased production costs. Effective management strategies are necessary to control this pest. To effectively manage this pest, it is important to understand its life cycle, its preferred habitats, and the best methods for controlling it. This article will provide an overview and discussion of the Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest in Banana crops, including its symptoms, identification techniques, and control.

Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest Management

Life Cycle of Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest in Banana Crop

The lifecycle begins when the female lays eggs on the undersides of the banana plant’s leaves, typically in groups of 50 to 100. The eggs hatch after 7 to 10 days, depending on the temperature and humidity. The larvae emerge from the eggs and are initially known as crawlers. They move to the underside of the leaves and begin to feed on the plant’s sap. The larvae grow and develop into the next instar, which is larger and darker in color.

The larvae enter the pupa stage and transform into a stationary, winged, and non-feeding stage. The pupal stage lasts between 7 to 10 days. The adult Banana Spiraling Whitefly emerges from the pupa and mate, and the females begin laying eggs, starting the lifecycle all over again. The Banana Spiraling Whitefly can produce several generations annually, each lasting approximately one month. The pest’s lifecycle typically lasts 30 to 40 days, depending on the temperature and other environmental factors.

Occurrence of Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest in Banana Crop

Location of Banana Spiralling Whitefly pest: This pest infests Banana crops in India, Africa, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, the Philippines, and Australia.
Host range: The Banana Spiralling Whitefly pest infects crops like Banana, Cassava, Citrus, Coconut, Eggplant, Sweet potatoes, and Tomato.

Factors Favoring the Population Increase of Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest in Banana Crop

The pest thrives in warm temperatures ranging from 25-30°C. These temperatures are ideal for its growth, development, and reproduction. High temperatures also reduce the developmental time of the pest, leading to a rapid increase in population size.
The pest prefers high humidity levels, ranging from 60-90%. High humidity levels provide ideal conditions for the pest to feed, reproduce, and survive. In humid conditions, the pest can complete its life cycle in a shorter time, leading to a rapid increase in population size.
Due to the absence of natural enemies to control its population, the pest can rapidly increase its population size, leading to severe infestations.
The pest has developed resistance to insecticides, making it difficult to control its population. Inadequate or improper use of insecticides can also contribute to pest resistance and increase population size.
Overcrowding banana plants can create favorable conditions for spreading the pest, leading to higher infestation levels.

Identification of Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest in Banana Crop

Egg: The eggs are oval-shaped, yellowish-white, and approximately 0.2 mm long.
Larva: The crawlers are approximately 0.3 mm long and pale yellow.
Pupa: The pupa is typically oval-shaped and yellowish-brown in color.
Adult: The adult is approximately 1.5 mm long, has white wings, and a yellowish-brown body.

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Damage Symptoms of Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest in Banana Crop

The pest secretes a sticky, sugary substance called honeydew while sucking the sap from the plant, which can cover the banana plant’s leaves, stems, and fruit.
The honeydew secretion from the pest can also lead to the growth of sooty mold, a black fungal growth that covers the plant’s leaves, stems, and fruit.
Sooty mold can reduce the plant’s ability to photosynthesize, reducing growth and yield.
The egg-laying pattern of this pest resembles a white powder-like spiral shape.
The feeding activity of the pest can cause the banana plant leaves to turn yellow, wilt, and eventually die.
In severe infestations, the pest can cause the fruit to become deformed and fall prematurely, making it unmarketable.

Percentage of Yield Loss in Bananas Due to Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest

In India, the yield losses due to Banana Spiralling Whitefly pests are 80%. In Thailand, the percentage of yield loss is 10-50%. In Thailand, it is 60%. In Sri Lanka, the losses are 60%. In Vietnam, it is 70%. In Indonesia, the losses are 50%. In Africa, it is 50%. In the United States, it is 30%. In Mexico, it is 30%. In Brazil, it is 60%. In China, it is 50%.
In Colombia, the losses are 50%. In Ecuador, it is 70%. In Australia, it is 50%. In the Philippines, the yield losses are 60%. The Economic Threshold Level (ETL) for the Banana Spiralling Whitefly pest is 10-20% affected leaves.

Cultural Control of Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest in Banana Crop

The rotation of banana crops with other non-host crops breaks the pest’s life cycle and reduces its population.
Mulching can help maintain soil moisture and reduce weed growth, reducing the pest population in the field.
Remove and destroy any infested plant debris, such as leaves and stems, from the field as soon as possible to reduce pest population build-up.
Pruning can reduce the pest population by removing infested leaves and stems and destroying them to prevent the spread of the pest. This will increase light penetration and air circulation in the field, making it difficult for the pest to survive.
Remove alternative host plants like Citrus, Brinjal, and Tomato.

Biological Control of Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest in Banana Crop

Predators such as ladybugs and lacewings feed on the eggs, nymphs, and adults, reducing the pest population.
Parasitoids, such as Encarsia guadeloupae, E. transvena, and Eretmocerus sp., lay their eggs inside the nymphs, which develop and eventually kill the host.
The entomo-pathogenic fungi, such as Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, infects and kill the pest.
The entomo-pathogenic nematodes, such as Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, can infect and kill the pests’ larvae and pupae in the soil.

Chemical Control of Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest in Banana Crop

Spray insecticides on the crops like Acetamiprid or Chlorpyrifos on the foliage to control the pest.
Injection – Inject Imidacloprid into the pseudostem of the plant to control the pest when it feeds on the sap.
Insect Growth Regulators – Apply Buprofezin or Pyriproxyfen to prevent them from maturing into adult whiteflies.

Organic Control of Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest in Banana Crop

Plant extracts from neem, lantana, garlic, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, and chili can be applied to manage the infestation.
Spinosad controls both larvae and adult stages of the pest and has a relatively short residual effect.
The bacterial agent Bacillus thuringiensis can also control the pest.

Preventive Measures for Control of Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest in Banana Crop

Overwatering can lead to water accumulation on the leaves and create a favorable environment for pest infestation. Proper irrigation practices should ensure the plants receive enough water without creating excess moisture on the leaves.
Planting disease-free and pest-free planting material can prevent pest incidence.
Monitor the crops regularly using pheromone traps to identify pest infestation in the early stages to keep it under control.

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Conclusion

The Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest, Aleurodicus dispersus, is a major pest of banana crops worldwide, causing yield losses and economic damages and affecting the livelihood of farmers. The pest is known to infest a wide range of crops other than bananas, making its management even more challenging. Integrated pest management approaches, combining different control measures, are essential for the effective and sustainable management of pests in banana crops.

Banana Spiralling Whitefly Pest Management: Symptoms, Treatment, Chemical, Biological, and Organic Control

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