Banana-pest
Guides
Cosmopolites
Cosmopolites is a genus of true weevils in the subfamily Dryophthorinae, tribe Sphenophorini. The genus contains at least five described species, with Cosmopolites sordidus (banana weevil) as the type species and most economically important member. Species in this genus are associated with monocot hosts, particularly banana and plantain plants.
Cosmopolites sordidus
banana root borer, banana borer, banana weevil
Cosmopolites sordidus is a serious pest of banana cultivation with cosmopolitan distribution throughout banana-growing regions worldwide. Adults are approximately 11 mm long with glossy greyish-black to dark brown coloration. The species is considered the most damaging insect pest of bananas, with larvae burrowing into stems and corms causing plant weakening, lodging, and yield reduction. The complete life cycle takes 30–40 days.
Metamasius hemipterus
Silky Cane Weevil, West Indian Sugarcane Weevil, moleque-da-bananeira, broca-rajada
Metamasius hemipterus is a weevil species in the family Dryophthoridae, commonly known as the silky cane weevil or West Indian sugarcane weevil. It is a significant agricultural pest of sugarcane, banana, coconut, and ornamental palms. The species has been introduced to multiple regions beyond its native range and is now established across the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. Larvae bore into plant stalks and stems, causing direct and indirect damage that reduces crop productivity. The species is known to use aggregation pheromones and is associated with the endosymbiont "Candidatus Nardonella dryophthoridicola".
Myochrous
Myochrous is a genus of leaf beetles in the subfamily Eumolpinae, containing over 50 described species distributed across North, Central, and South America. The generic name derives from Ancient Greek words meaning 'mouse' and 'color'. Several species are agricultural pests, including Myochrous denticollis (southern corn leaf beetle), Myochrous melancholicus (banana pest), and Myochrous armatus (emerging soybean pest in Brazil). The genus was formerly placed in tribe Adoxini but is now classified in Eumolpini.
Nacoleia
Banana scab moth (for N. octasema)
Nacoleia is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Pyraustinae. The genus includes agricultural pests, most notably Nacoleia octasema (banana scab moth), which damages banana crops in tropical Asia and the Pacific. Some species serve as hosts for polyembryonic parasitoid wasps. The genus was established by Walker in 1859.
Prococcus acutissimus
banana-shaped scale
Prococcus acutissimus is a soft scale insect (family Coccidae) originally described from Sri Lanka in 1896. It is commonly known as the banana-shaped scale, reflecting its distinctive body form. The species has become widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions, with records spanning the Indo-Pacific, Africa, the Caribbean, and North America. It is associated with diverse host plants and has been observed on agricultural crops, though specific economic impacts remain poorly documented.