Pheromone traps available for use in practice
Researchers of Wageningen UR have discovered a new sex pheromone for easy and specific detection of infestations and contaminations of the banana borer (Opogona sacchari) in a large number of crops. Application of this new sex pheromone in a pheromone trap enables early detection of the banana borer and timely deployment of specific measures.
Photo: Opogona sacchari; banana borer (female). Source: Plant Protection Service, Wageningen.
After research by Plant Research International, for the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the composition of the sex pheromone of Opogona sacchari has recently been charted. This specific pheromone was difficult to identify compared to that of other types of butterflies. The identified sex pheromone has in recent months successfully been tested on different ornamental holdings in areas of origin. These experiments showed that Opogona does not fly far, resulting in large local differences in trap catches. Infestations were found in the direct vicinity of a delta trap with larger numbers of trapped moths.
| Opogona sacchari is a (sub)tropical moth that enters into countries with imported plant material and that causes damage in the covered culture of a large number of ornamental crops. Host plants of the banana borer are: Aechmea, Alpinia, Araucaria, bamboo, banana, Beaucarnea, Begonia, Bougainvillea, Bromeliaceae, Cactaceae, Capsicum, Chamaedorea, Cordyline, Dieffenbachia, Dracaena, Euphorbia pulcherrima, Ficus, Gloxinia, Heliconia, Hippeastrum, maize, Maranta, Pachira, Philodendron, pineapple, Saintpaulia, Sanseveria, Strelitzia, sugar cane and Yucca. |
Opogona sacchari; caterpillar of the banana borer. Source: Plant Protection Service, Wageningen |
Opogona sacchari has a quarantine status in the European Union. This means that the organism may not be imported or spread and that caterpillar and moth must be controlled when these are found. The presence of Opogona sacchari in ornamental crops or fruits may pose a serious threat to export. It is therefore very important that countries can guarantee that plant material grown and traded is free from Opogona sacchari.
The moth originates from the humid tropical and subtropical areas in Africa. Outside these areas Opogona sacchari can only survive in greenhouses. The banana borer is found on various African islands, in West Africa (Nigeria), on the Canary Islands and Madeira, in Central and South America, and in Europe and Florida.