Banana Moth
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adult; Photo by Lyle Buss, University of Florida |
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adult; Photo by Lyle Buss, University of Florida |
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larva; Photo by Lyle Buss, University of Florida |
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larva; Pflanzenschutzamt Weil-am-Rhein Archives Archive, , www.insectimages.org |
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larva; Photo by A. van Frankenhuijzen, Plant Protection Service, www.insectimages.org |
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young Pritchardia palm dying from banana moth damage; Photo by Scot Nelson, University of Hawaii at Manoa |
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heart rot in Pritchardia palm due to banana moth infestation; Photo by Scot Nelson, University of Hawaii at Manoa |
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palm damage with larvae; Photo by Scot Nelson, University of Hawaii at Manoa |
Family
Tineidae
Synonyms
Alucita sacchari Bojer, Tinea subcervinella Walker, Opogona subcervinella (Walker)
Description
Adults: Length 10-15 mm; wingspan 18-24 mm; color bright yellowish-brown; forewing may show longitudinal darker brown banding, male forewing with a dark-brown spot towards apex; hindwing is paler and brighter than forewing; antennae filiformfiliform:
threadlike, slender, and of nearly equal diameter throughout, with all segments of nearly equal size
pointing forward at rest.
Larvae: Length 21-26 mm; body color dirty-white and somewhat transparent; head color bright reddish-brown with one lateral ocellusocellus:
a simple eye found in some adult insects that consists of a single, bead-like lens
at each side; clearly visible brownish thoracic and abdominal plates.
Pupae: Length less than 10 mm; formed in a cocoon, appxomately 15 mm in length, spun at the end of a mine; two bent hooks show at the end of the abdomen on the abandoned protuding pupal skin.
Diagnostic features
Adult: Length 11 mm; forewings may show longitudinal darker brown banding and in males, a dark-brown spot towards the apex; at rest, the filiformfiliform:
threadlike, slender, and of nearly equal diameter throughout, with all segments of nearly equal size
antennae point forward.
Larvae: Color dirty-white and somewhat transparent (intestines can be seen through skin) with a bright reddish-brown head; presence of brown patches on the top and dark brown "pores" along the sides of the body are diagnostic features.
Distribution
Native: Africa, humid tropical and subtropical regions of continent.
Introduced: United States (Florida and Hawaii), Caribbean, Bermuda, Brazil, Canary Islands, Central America, Europe, and Israel.
Hosts
Palm: includes the genera Arecastrum, Archontophoenix, Caryota, Chamaedorea, Cocos, Hyophorbe, Neodypsis, Pritchardia, Roystonea, Veitchia, and Wodyetia.
Other: bamboo, pineapple, banana, coffee, and sugarcane.
Additional comments
Banana Moth can be transported in propagation material of host plants.The point of moth entry is usually either into the young heart leaves or some place along the stem in natural openings or wounds such as cut petioles.
