Banana Pseudostem Weevil Control

Symptoms

Caused by Odoiporus longicollis. Grubs bore long zig zag tunnels inside the pseudostem near the base. Oozing of jelly like sap or gum from small holes is a key sign. Leaves yellow and wilt, the stem weakens, and severely bored plants snap or fail to fruit properly.

Damage

Pseudostem weevil is a serious hidden pest because grubs feed inside where sprays cannot reach. Tunnelling weakens the plant, blocks sap flow, and reduces bunch size and weight. Heavy attack can cause plants to break at the bunch stage, leading to major yield loss.

Organic & cultural control

Use only healthy weevil free suckers for planting. Remove and destroy old infested pseudostems by chopping and deep burying after harvest so weevils do not breed. Set longitudinally split pseudostem traps in the field to attract and collect adult weevils, then destroy them. Keep the plantation clean and free of crop debris.

Chemical control

Because grubs live inside the stem, prevention and trapping matter most; where infestation is established, swabbing or injecting the pseudostem with a recommended insecticide and treating sucker bases at planting can help. Always read and follow the label, observe the pre-harvest interval, and consult your KVK or agronomist before any chemical use on edible banana.

Always follow the product label, the recommended pre-harvest interval, and your local KVK or agronomist. Pesticide approvals change, so verify before use.

Prevention

Select clean, certified or tissue culture planting material. After every harvest, cut the harvested pseudostem at ground level and split or bury it instead of leaving it standing. Avoid carrying suckers from infested fields. Regular field sanitation and trap setting keep weevil numbers low.