Burrowing holes on new growth

Orly · 06-23-2017, 07:04 PM

I'm starting to see this more frequently on one of my nanas (Hua Moa I think). Something is burrowing holes in the new leafs before they unfold. Caterpillar or moth maybe? I haven't been able to see the culprit yet.

Should I be concerned? If so how should I treat this?

edwmax · 06-23-2017, 07:23 PM

Spray the plant with Ortho Bug b Gone or any garden insecticide per mixing directions. I did my nana plants this morning as well as my tomatoes & squash. ... Those are big holes, so I don't know what would make those.

Orly · 06-23-2017, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwmax

Spray the plant with Ortho Bug b Gone or any garden insecticide per mixing directions. I did my nana plants this morning as well as my tomatoes & squash. ... Those are big holes, so I don't know what would make those.

I think I found the bugger. I flushed it with water out of the top of the trunk, at the base of where new growth emerges. A caterpillar of some type. It's history now but not sure if more of them may be still be in there.

I'll need to apply an insecticide of some type as you suggested. An insecticide I could use on my other plants like Ixoras with ants aphids and scale as well as my pineapples with ants would be good.

I'm also growing tomatoes and they are near my nanas. I occasionally spray my tomatoes with Neem oil and have not seen pest on them yet.

ID on this pest?

edwmax · 06-23-2017, 08:32 PM

Aphids and white flies can infest nanas as well as your tomatoes, citrus, and other garden veges. aphids will hide under the leaf sheath on the pstem as your little critter did. Make sure you get the spray down in those areas.

Orly · 06-23-2017, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwmax

Aphids and white flies can infest nanas as well as your tomatoes, citrus, and other garden veges. aphids will hide under the leaf sheath on the pstem as your little critter did. Make sure you get the spray down in those areas.

So I guess I'll give Bug-b-Gone a try.

There is another insecticide that targets caterpillars with bacillus thuringiensis. That's another option but I think Bug-b-gone treats them all.

Thanks.

Tytaylor77 · 06-24-2017, 01:28 AM

You found it. Those holes are always caterpillar. He sits at bottom of the last leaf and eats the roller as it moves up. He stays still but the roller moves so that's why you see so many different holes! It's each time he got hungry and in between the roller pushed up more! You found him and there won't be more damage for now. I would hold off spraying. 99% of the time I look around and find him!

edwmax · 06-24-2017, 07:29 AM

That one looks like a 'corn worm' which can also eat tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers.

Ordinarily I would tend to agree with Ty about not spraying after you found the worm. But you stated that you had tomatoes near by. ... I spray my bananas at the same time I spray the vegetables & citrus trees to keep the nana plants from be a host to white flies and other sap sucking flying insects that will devastate garden & citrus plants. The spray wont hurt the nanas and should you have fruit you would be ahead of the game of keeping insects off the bunch.

Orly · 06-24-2017, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwmax

That one looks like a 'corn worm' which can also eat tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers.

Ordinarily I would tend to agree with Ty about not spraying after you found the worm. But you stated that you had tomatoes near by. ... I spray my bananas at the same time I spray the vegetables & citrus trees to keep the nana plants from be a host to white flies and other sap sucking flying insects that will devastate garden & citrus plants. The spray wont hurt the nanas and should you have fruit you would be ahead of the game of keeping insects off the bunch.

I think I'm gonna give them, and a few others, a spray. I've been having a few pest problems that Neem oil hasn't been effective with so I'd like to get it all under control for a start.

My tomatoes have begun to fruit so it would really suck if they got hit-up by pests at this point.

Thx

Orly · 06-24-2017, 06:09 PM

Gave my nanas, Ixoras, and a couple pineapples a quick dousing of Bug-B-Gone. Hopefully that puts an end to the buggers for now.

I'll give my tomatoes a quick spray of Neem oil tomorrow morning. I just ate my 1st tomato of the crop, yellow pear, not bad at all.

Orly · 07-19-2017, 02:46 PM

Those blasted worm/caterpillars keep coming back. They nearly ate clear through a new spear, it's folded over in half, uncurled. Sprayed the plants again. That should get rid of them for at least a little while.

Tytaylor77 · 07-20-2017, 12:58 PM

Wow you have some hungry caterpillars (I'm sure a corn worm. They all look the same when smashed to me). I really is amazing how much a little caterpillar can eat! Only trouble I've ever had is in spring. 2 of them can eat just almost every bit of the new roller!

Orly · 07-20-2017, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tytaylor77

Wow you have some hungry caterpillars (I'm sure a corn worm. They all look the same when smashed to me). I really is amazing how much a little caterpillar can eat! Only trouble I've ever had is in spring. 2 of them can eat just almost every bit of the new roller!

Yeah slimy bastard did this:

And here is the POS responsible for it:

Danounet · 07-27-2017, 10:22 PM

This could take a while to find, but I suggest you look up what kind of caterpillar that is and find one of its main predators, then see if you could find the host plant for that predator (where parents have/leave their babies to grow). With that info, see if you could find those plants, or if is even viable for you to plant those in your zone.

Good luck

Orly · 07-28-2017, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danounet

This could take a while to find, but I suggest you look up what kind of caterpillar that is and find one of its main predators, then see if you could find the host plant for that predator (where parents have/leave their babies to grow). With that info, see if you could find those plants, or if is even viable for you to plant those in your zone.

Good luck

It looks an awful lot like a corn earworm. A natural remedy is to release boatloads of Trichogramma Wasps. I don't have those handy. Green lacewings, minute pirate bugs and damsel bugs are also predators.

Also treatable with Bacillus thuringiensis. Available in many places.

This is all assuming It's really an earworm.

Danounet · 07-28-2017, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orly

It looks an awful lot like a corn earworm. A natural remedy is to release boatloads of Trichogramma Wasps. I don't have those handy. Green lacewings, minute pirate bugs and damsel bugs are also predators.

Also treatable with Bacillus thuringiensis. Available in many places.

This is all assuming It's really an earworm.

You dont need to get all those, you just need a few host plants. If you build them, they will come.

Orly · 07-28-2017, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danounet

You dont need to get all those, you just need a few host plants. If you build them, they will come.

Was doing a little research into these predator insects. Turns out the Green Lacewing is attracted by Sunflowers. Just so happens that my neighbor recently started growing Sunflowers, many of them, within 20 ft of my nanas. Might work out good for me. Dandelions attract them as well.

Damsel Bugs, as well as many other predatory insects, are harbored within Alfalfa. Alfalfa is considered and insectary.

beam2050 · 07-29-2017, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orly

Was doing a little research into these predator insects. Turns out the Green Lacewing is attracted by Sunflowers. Just so happens that my neighbor recently started growing Sunflowers, many of them, within 20 ft of my nanas. Might work out good for me. Dandelions attract them as well.

Damsel Bugs, as well as many other predatory insects, are harbored within Alfalfa. Alfalfa is considered and insectary.

proud to send you some dandelions free of charge.

Orly · 08-01-2017, 04:17 PM

I spotted a good critter on one of my papaya trees today which are located adjacent to my nanas. It was a Zelus longipes, AKA milkweed assassin bug. They feed any many critters including worms and caterpillars. That could be good news for me and bad newsfor my banana leaf munching bastard caterpillars.

Orly · 01-10-2018, 09:17 AM

I recently spotted a few of these under some of my Papaya tree leaves.

Turns out to be the Brachonid wasp cocoon which is a good thing. It's the left over of detructive worms/caterpillars being consumed by the wasp. Coupled by the fact that I haven't had any more issues with worms on my nana's for the last month or so that's good news.

06-23-2017, 07:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Orly Location: Palm Beach, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 73 BananaBucks : 23,151 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 49 Times Was Thanked 171 Times in 56 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Burrowing holes on new growth I'm starting to see this more frequently on one of my nanas (Hua Moa I think). Something is burrowing holes in the new leafs before they unfold. Caterpillar or moth maybe? I haven't been able to see the culprit yet. Should I be concerned? If so how should I treat this?

06-23-2017, 07:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
edwmax Location: Cairo, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 2,891 BananaBucks : 88,660 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,741 Times Was Thanked 4,440 Times in 2,095 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 414 Times	Re: Burrowing holes on new growth Spray the plant with Ortho Bug b Gone or any garden insecticide per mixing directions. I did my nana plants this morning as well as my tomatoes & squash. ... Those are big holes, so I don't know what would make those. __________________

06-23-2017, 08:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
edwmax Location: Cairo, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 2,891 BananaBucks : 88,660 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,741 Times Was Thanked 4,440 Times in 2,095 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 414 Times	Re: Burrowing holes on new growth Aphids and white flies can infest nanas as well as your tomatoes, citrus, and other garden veges. aphids will hide under the leaf sheath on the pstem as your little critter did. Make sure you get the spray down in those areas. __________________

06-24-2017, 01:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tytaylor77 Banana Plants for Trade Location: East Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Ty Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,367 BananaBucks : 47,628 Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,612 Times Was Thanked 3,726 Times in 1,185 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 424 Times	Re: Burrowing holes on new growth You found it. Those holes are always caterpillar. He sits at bottom of the last leaf and eats the roller as it moves up. He stays still but the roller moves so that's why you see so many different holes! It's each time he got hungry and in between the roller pushed up more! You found him and there won't be more damage for now. I would hold off spraying. 99% of the time I look around and find him! __________________ 150+ Varieties!!. See profile for list. Help me add more! CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF MY MUSA COLLECTION! www.bananapups.com

06-24-2017, 07:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
edwmax Location: Cairo, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 2,891 BananaBucks : 88,660 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,741 Times Was Thanked 4,440 Times in 2,095 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 414 Times	Re: Burrowing holes on new growth That one looks like a 'corn worm' which can also eat tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers. Ordinarily I would tend to agree with Ty about not spraying after you found the worm. But you stated that you had tomatoes near by. ... I spray my bananas at the same time I spray the vegetables & citrus trees to keep the nana plants from be a host to white flies and other sap sucking flying insects that will devastate garden & citrus plants. The spray wont hurt the nanas and should you have fruit you would be ahead of the game of keeping insects off the bunch. __________________ Last edited by edwmax : 06-24-2017 at 07:34 AM.

Members currently in the chatroom: 0
	The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009. No one is currently using the chat.

06-24-2017, 06:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
Orly Location: Palm Beach, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 73 BananaBucks : 23,151 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 49 Times Was Thanked 171 Times in 56 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Burrowing holes on new growth Gave my nanas, Ixoras, and a couple pineapples a quick dousing of Bug-B-Gone. Hopefully that puts an end to the buggers for now. I'll give my tomatoes a quick spray of Neem oil tomorrow morning. I just ate my 1st tomato of the crop, yellow pear, not bad at all. Last edited by Orly : 06-24-2017 at 06:12 PM.

07-19-2017, 02:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
Orly Location: Palm Beach, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 73 BananaBucks : 23,151 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 49 Times Was Thanked 171 Times in 56 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Burrowing holes on new growth Those blasted worm/caterpillars keep coming back. They nearly ate clear through a new spear, it's folded over in half, uncurled. Sprayed the plants again. That should get rid of them for at least a little while.

07-20-2017, 12:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tytaylor77 Banana Plants for Trade Location: East Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Ty Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,367 BananaBucks : 47,628 Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,612 Times Was Thanked 3,726 Times in 1,185 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 424 Times	Re: Burrowing holes on new growth Wow you have some hungry caterpillars (I'm sure a corn worm. They all look the same when smashed to me). I really is amazing how much a little caterpillar can eat! Only trouble I've ever had is in spring. 2 of them can eat just almost every bit of the new roller! __________________ 150+ Varieties!!. See profile for list. Help me add more! CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF MY MUSA COLLECTION! www.bananapups.com

07-27-2017, 10:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
Danounet Location: Davie, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10-11 Name: Danny Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 47 BananaBucks : 10,087 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 90 Times Was Thanked 115 Times in 34 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Burrowing holes on new growth This could take a while to find, but I suggest you look up what kind of caterpillar that is and find one of its main predators, then see if you could find the host plant for that predator (where parents have/leave their babies to grow). With that info, see if you could find those plants, or if is even viable for you to plant those in your zone. Good luck __________________ Dwarf Orinoco Gran Nain Manzano Goldfinger (FHIA-01) Dwarf Red Mona Lisa (FHIA-02) Sweetheart (FHIA-03) PR Common Dwarf Plantain Unknown Plantain?

08-01-2017, 04:17 PM	#18 (permalink)
Orly Location: Palm Beach, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 73 BananaBucks : 23,151 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 49 Times Was Thanked 171 Times in 56 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Burrowing holes on new growth I spotted a good critter on one of my papaya trees today which are located adjacent to my nanas. It was a Zelus longipes, AKA milkweed assassin bug. They feed any many critters including worms and caterpillars. That could be good news for me and bad newsfor my banana leaf munching bastard caterpillars.

01-10-2018, 09:17 AM	#19 (permalink)
Orly Location: Palm Beach, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 73 BananaBucks : 23,151 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 49 Times Was Thanked 171 Times in 56 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Burrowing holes on new growth I recently spotted a few of these under some of my Papaya tree leaves. Turns out to be the Brachonid wasp cocoon which is a good thing. It's the left over of detructive worms/caterpillars being consumed by the wasp. Coupled by the fact that I haven't had any more issues with worms on my nana's for the last month or so that's good news.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
My Red kru growth	kaczercat	Main Banana Discussion	68	12-17-2018 11:12 AM
Banana leaf with burn? holes?	wolfyhound	Banana Plant Health And Maintenance Topics	4	08-16-2014 10:04 PM
Top leaves shredded bug holes on cigars	Jose263	Main Banana Discussion	24	08-21-2013 04:47 PM
Growth so far	Sailfish	Main Banana Discussion	6	07-26-2010 07:39 PM
Who is drilling holes in my pergola?	island cassie	Tiki Hut	5	01-23-2008 09:11 AM