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View Full Version : What are these larvae?


SonnyCrockett
02-16-2017, 10:41 PM
Trimming off the cold-damaged leaves on my bananas and noticed small white larvae (like tiny maggots) crawling in the mushy leaves. What are they? Are they harmful?

Gabe15
02-16-2017, 11:07 PM
Without photos there isn't a way to say exactly what they might be, but they are almost certainly not harmful to the plant. It sounds like just some opportunistic insect (such as some type of fly or beetle) laid eggs in the decaying organic matter and you are just observing them develop, but it sounds like there is really no reason to believe they are pests or otherwise harming the plant.

JP
02-17-2017, 12:22 PM
I had something last year fitting that description and got rid of it dusting the plant with plain old regular white wheat flour. Not the enriched or bleached one...
Worked great and did no damage to the plant.
Pics would help but I'd try this if I where you.

Ripsaw
02-17-2017, 01:13 PM
If eating the decaying leaves, may not be bad, but the adult may have a fondness for the healthier parts of the plant. If can't tell, introduce a predator to the plant. They will clean it up!

I love destroyers and stay at home ladybugs. You could also take the leaf and maggots and place in a jar and see what may or may not develop.