• Worldwide distribution. On banana and plantains, and relatives, e.g., Heliconia.. Also, on Canna, ginger species, and aroids.
• Damage is done by the aphid spreading Banana bunchy top virus, after 18 hours’ feeding. Once aphid is infected, it stays infected until death.
• Natural enemies: beetles, lacewings, syrphids, parasitoid wasps.
• Cultural control: weed – remove alternate hosts; prune mats of unwanted suckers; plantains are tolerant, and Gros Michel is more tolerant than Dwarf Cavendish.
• Chemical control: if plant has BBTV, remove old leaves, then kill aphids by (i) soap, white or horticultural oils; (ii) derris or pyrethrum; (iii) synthetic pyrethroids; or (v) kerosene or diesel. Spray glyphosate, and after 1 week, remove plant and burn.

Banana aphid

Pentalonia nigronerversa