Banana Aphid

Catalogue Type

Plant Pests Catalogue

Scientific Name

Pentalonia nigronervosa

Family

Aphididae

Distinguishing Characters

Wingless aphid is dark brown.
Winged aphids have wings having prominent black veins.

Host Crop

Banana, small and large cardamom, Colocasia sps. and Allocasia sps.

Order

Hemiptera

Photo of Insect

Photo of Damaged Crop

Description

Adults suck up plant sap and act as a vector of the mosaic or 'Katte' virus of cardamom.

Colonies of aphids are seen under concealed conditions inside leaf sheath.

These colonies are also seen in upper leaf sheaths and lower flower bracts of the ginger stem. The entire inflorescence may be infested. Small colonies occasionally occur on the leaf blade.

Ants are associated with the banana aphid. The ants feed on the honeydew secreted by the aphid and, in turn, establish new aphid colonies and ward off natural enemies.