Banana Bugs

• Banana plants have several different bugs that can cause damage, and some of the more common bugs include the banana rust thrip, banana spider mites and two-spotted mites. Adult banana rust thrips grow only to 1.5 mm long and appear either yellow or golden brown in color. Their wings have two eye-like patches at their base. Both the banana spider mite and the two-spotted mite grow less than ½ mm long and can barely be seen by the naked eye. The two-spotted mite appears green or clear in color and has two round black markings. Banana spider mites have no spots and appear more yellow in color.
  
  

Life Cycle

• Banana rust thrips have four stages of life: egg, larval, pupal and adulthood. During the summer, eggs take around eight days to hatch into the larval stage, which can last eight to 10 days. Once the pupal stage has been reached, the bugs retreat to the soil where, after seven to 10 days, they will emerge as adults.
  
  Both of the mite bugs have five stages of life. However, after hatching their forms do not change. Mites will cast off their skin to simply grow slightly larger.
  
  

Damage

• The banana rust thrip will cause rust-colored discoloration on the banana fruits. Due to the thrip colonies gathering, smoky white areas will develop first in places where the bananas touch or join, and more severe discoloration will follow.
  
  Mite damage primarily occurs on older leaves, but can move to fruit and younger growth. Leaf damage will first appear like rust patches and will result in the entire leaf becoming brown. Damage to bananas by banana spider mites will happen near the top, and red to purple spots will appear due to feeding. Two-spotted mites damage to bananas appears gray.
  
  

Management

• Early detection provides the best chances of stopping infestations. The number of banana rust thrips can be lowered by introducing natural predators like lacewings and the ladybird beetle. Any chemical control should be used on both the plant fruit and leaves and the soil surrounding the plant.
  
  The ladybird beetle and rove beetle can be introduced to control the numbers of banana spider mites and two-spotted mites. Chemical control can be used if no natural predators inhabit the area or if younger leaves show signs of damage.