Cosmopolites sordidus
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Damage Signs
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Organic Methods
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Chemical Options
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ID Tips
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FAQs
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Crops Affected
Updated February 2026
เห็น Banana Weevil (Banana Borer) บนพืชของคุณ?
อัปโหลดภาพเพื่อระบุทันทีพร้อมวิธีควบคุมแบบอินทรีย์และเคมี
Overview
The most destructive insect pest of banana and plantain worldwide. Adult weevils lay eggs at the base of the pseudostem, and larvae bore through the corm (rhizome), destroying the root system and causing plants to topple. Yield losses of 30-90% are common in heavily infested plantations. The weevil is present in all banana-growing regions.
Field Guide
Adults are hard-shelled, dark brown to black weevils (10-15 mm long) with a characteristic curved snout (rostrum). They are nocturnal and hide in leaf sheaths and soil debris during the day. Larvae are white, legless, C-shaped grubs (12 mm) found boring in the corm. Pupation occurs inside the corm.
Dig up and split a suspicious corm — brown tunnels radiating through the white corm tissue are diagnostic
Set pseudostem traps and check after 2-3 nights — adult weevils found under traps confirm presence
Plants toppling at the base (not snapping mid-stem from wind) suggest weevil corm damage
Weevils are nocturnal — inspect base of plants with a flashlight at night to find adults
Scouting Guide
Tunneling visible in the corm (rhizome) when cut or dug up — brown tunnels radiating through white corm tissue
Plant toppling (snapping at the base) due to weakened corm — especially during wind
Poor sucker development and thin, weak pseudostems
Premature yellowing and wilting of leaves in severe infestations
Reduced bunch size and delayed maturity
Biology
Complete metamorphosis: egg laid in corm (5-7 days) → larva feeds inside corm for 15-30 days → pupa inside corm (6-8 days) → adult lives 1-2 years. Adults are long-lived, flightless, and nocturnal. Spread is primarily through infested planting material.
Pest Management
Clean planting material
Use tissue culture plants (weevil-free) or carefully peel and pare corms, removing all brown tissue and weevil tunnels before planting. Hot water treat pared corms at 52°C for 20 minutes.
Pseudostem traps
Cut harvested pseudostems into 50 cm sections, split lengthwise, and place cut-side-down near banana mats. Adult weevils are attracted to the fermenting sap. Collect and kill weevils every 2-3 days.
Beauveria bassiana
Apply Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogenic fungus) at the base of plants. The fungus infects and kills adult weevils. Most effective in humid conditions.
Good sanitation
Remove and destroy old pseudostem stumps after harvest — these are prime weevil breeding sites. Cut stumps flush with the ground and chop into small pieces for rapid decomposition.
Use as last resort. Follow label instructions. Wear protective equipment.
Chlorpyrifos soil application
Apply chlorpyrifos granules (Dursban 10G) around the base of the plant at 30 g per mat, worked into the top 5 cm of soil. Apply twice yearly.
Fipronil injection
Inject fipronil gel (Cosmolure+) into the pseudostem base. Provides targeted control with minimal environmental exposure.
Host Range
Banana Weevil (Banana Borer) can attack 2 crop species.
Common Questions
Banana weevils are flightless — they walk, but only short distances. The primary means of spread to new areas is through infested planting material (suckers/corms). This is why using tissue culture or carefully inspected and treated planting material is the single most important prevention measure.
Yes, through a combination of pseudostem trapping (to reduce adult populations), sanitation (destroying old stumps), and replanting with clean tissue culture plants plus soil treatment. Recovery takes 1-2 years of consistent effort but infestations can be brought below damaging levels.
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