Documentation of Pest Incidence and Pesticide Application Patterns in Banana with Special Emphasis on the Management of Odoiporus longicollis (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Selected Districts of Kerala, India

Abstract

Banana (Musa spp.) is a major fruit crop extensively cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. This study investigated pest occurrence, pesticide usage patterns, and control strategies in banana cultivation systems, focusing particularly on Odoiporus longicollis (Olivier), an economically significant pest species, across selected districts in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Data were collected from 80 commercial banana farmers across eight major banana-growing districts through a structured questionnaire. The study identified O. longicollis as the most prevalent chewing pest (87.5%), followed by Cosmopolites sordidus (82.5%) and Spodoptera litura (21.25%). Dominant sucking pests included Aleurodicus rugioperculatus (23.75%), Aleurodicus dispersus (18.75%), and Pentalonia nigronervosa (15%). Additionally, the study documented Rhynchophorus ferrugineus infesting banana plantations, marking a potential host expansion of this pest. Among insecticides from different groups chlorpyrifos (27.5%) was the most commonly used insecticide. The use of restricted insecticides, including monocrotophos and carbofuran, was also documented. Spraying on pseudostem and leaf axils (63.75%) was the primary application method, followed by sucker treatment (50%). Biopesticides such as neem oil, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Beauveria bassiana, and entomopathogenic nematodes were adopted minimally. About 55% of farmers followed a one-month spray interval from 4 months after planting (MAP) to 8 MAP, with 26.25% reporting control failures. Only 12.5% of the respondents practiced insecticide rotation, indicating gaps in resistance management awareness.