Thiruvananthapuram: Banana farmers in Kerala State of India have been facing severe butterfly attack. The larva of the pest damages the whole leaf leaving only the midrib. Scientists at the Kerala Agricultural University have called for extreme vigil against a new and devastating pest that threatens total destruction of banana crops in the State.

The pest has been identified as the Banana Skipper or Palm Redeye (Erionota thrax). This is a chocolate-brown butterfly belonging to the family Hesperidae. It is also known as Banana Leaf Roller because its larva or caterpillar cuts the leaves at the edges and makes a series of cylindrical rolls before developing into a pupa. Thus the larva destroys the whole banana leaves, leaving behind the respective leaf midrib.

According to Professor and Head of the Kerala Agricultural University instructional farm at Vellayani, Dr. Arthur Jacob, the pest was reported during last year from the different parts of the State. He said that the damage have been now spreading to the southern parts, especially Thiruvananthapuram which is a major cultivation center of banana. The infestation is found to be heavy in a few banana farms at Kalliyoor, Kakkamoola and Pallichal near Vellayani.

The banana leaf roller pest was originally reported from Southeast Asia. This pest family is now found distributed in Northeast India, Sikkim, Nepal, Andaman islands, Mauritius, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Hawaii and Papua New Guinea etc. The white powder-coated caterpillar having 4 to 6 cm length prefers banana leaves though it is occasionally found infesting coconut palms too.

Video on Banana leaf roller caterpillar