Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

https://apps.lucidcentral.org/ppp/

Banana skipper (181)

Search

Photo 1. Damage done to banana by the caterpillar of the banana skipper, Erionota thrax.

Photo 2. Caterpillar of the banana skipper, Erionata thrax. Note the black head, narrow "neck" and the body that is pale green.

Photo 3. Rolled edges of banana leaf by the banana skipper, Erionota thrax

Photo 4. Pupa of the banana skipper, Erionota thrax.

Photo 5. Adult banana skippers, Erionota thrax. The female is on the left.

Photo 6. Adult banana skipper, Erionota thrax, with folded wings.

Summary

• Narrow distribution. South and Southeast Asia, Oceania. On banana, and Musa species, bamboo, coconut and other palms.
• Eggs on underside of the leaves; caterpillars pale green with shiny black heads; adults up to 8 cm, brown with three yellow dots on forewings.
• Damage to 60% leaf area recorded, and if it occurs at fruiting, bunch yields likely to be lower.
• Natural enemies: wasp parasitoid.
• Cultural control: handpick.
• Chemical control: PDPs - chillies, neem, pyrethrum, derris (plus soap); or, if grown for sale, spinosad, or Bt, on young caterpillars, to preserve the natural enemies.

Common Name

Banana skipper, banana leaf roller, hesperiid butterfly

Scientific Name

Erionota thrax; there are three subspecies: Erionota thrax thrax in Papua New Guinea, Erionota thrax mindana in the Philippines, and Erionota thrax basdrubal in the northern Moluccas - the Moluccas are islands between East Timor, Sulawesi and Irian Jaya.

This mini fact sheet is a part of the app Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

The mobile application is available from the Google Play Store and Apple iTunes.