A review of the pest status and natural enemy complex of Banana skipper Erionota torus evans in south India and its management

Abstract

Huge outbreaks of the banana skipper Erionota torus Evans (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), considered as a minor pest of bananas and plantains in the northeast India, were witnessed in South India during 2012 16. It's present status as a pest of bananas in South India is briefly reviewed here with information on its natural enemies, seasonal incidence and varietal preference. Natural enemies of E. torus from South India were surveyed during 2015–18 and 14 parasitoids were observed on various stages of E. torus including five on eggs, seven on larvae and two on pupae. Most of the parasitoids observed in South India are known to parasitize E. torus in other parts of South and South East Asia, except Acropimpla sp. nr. nigroscutis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), which is reported here as a larval parasitoid of E. torus for the first time. Egg parasitism by Ooencyrtus pallidipes (Ashmead) and early larval parasitism by Elasmus brevicornis Gahan and heavy bird predation on older larvae were identified as major regulatory factors of E. torus in South India. At present, E. torus is mostly confined to parts of Western Ghats with cooler weather than the plains and its population is lower or absent in the plains of South India where outbreaks were reported earlier, possibly due to the influence of natural enemies and adverse abiotic factors. Other management options available for the pest are briefly discussed.