black little dots
 

I recently bought some ice cream and dwarf cavendish. They are about 12" tall but have little black dots (insects?) on the trunk. Does anyone know what these are and what can I do about it? Thanks for any info you may have.

Re: black little dots
 

:confused: Well since there are no pictures . Let's try to rule out insects ................ Can you brush them off with your finger ?

I have small black spots on many of my bananas that I worry about.

I've been told that they were no problem but wonder why no one has a name for these specks.

Now some are on my MickeyMouse taro plant , who shares the window seat with my 'nanas . Very frustrating to say the least:cool:

Re: black little dots
 

If those dots are moving, then they could be spider mites. Otherwise, they are leaf fungal infections which is common during the cool weather, something that doesn't really affect the yield of bananas that much. When those dots become bigger and begins to appear even on the newer leaves, then that is the only time to worry. Normally these "dots" also come with leaf age.

Re: black little dots
 

Oh my god... I have the same exact things on my Ice Cream Banana growing in my greenhouse... I sprayed and washed them off... They were moving very slowly.... they didn't look like spider mites (which are usually red), but more like a little black beetle type.

Re: black little dots
 

:cool: Mine are a part of the leaf , not critters or anything else that can be wiped off:rolleyes:

Re: black little dots
 

I have washed them off and set them outside for the day. That was last Saturday. So far I have not seen any of them coming back so it might have worked. I noticed though on my main plant that the oldest pup has died off as a new one grew out. Is this normal or did I do something wrong?

Re: black little dots
 

It isn't normal, but it does happen sometimes. The pup will more than likely be healthy and not have any similar problems.

Re: black little dots
 

Scooterbug: [quote] I have small black spots on many of my bananas that I worry about. I've been told that they were no problem but wonder why no one has a name for these specks. [quote]

These spots are small fungus infestigations. They appear if there has been a heavy rain which damaged the upper side of the leaf. If the plant is healty, only a small black spot will appear. If the plant isn't, the spot will grow and become grey/brown or white or with a yellow edge. There are a large amount of fungi which can cause this and therefore unable to tell.
They are called swamp-spot fungi and appear in end summer or fall.
Types of fungi: Phomopsis, Alternaria, Colletotrichum, Glomerella, Microspaerella and some more.
Simon

Re: black little dots
 

Thanks for the information Simon. I will look into this.

The spot on my bananas leaves never changed appearance , just stayed like tiny freckles :) Thankfully the spots have finally stopped appearing on the new growth.

I grow my tropical gardens like a jungle very close and intermixed. I will plant sparser this Summer.


I also raise German hybrid brugmansia seedlings so I do worry a lot :(

Thanks again.


Shirley