Banana Moth Opogona sacchari (Bojer) (Lepidoptera: Hieroxestidae) and Its Biological Control

摘要

More attentions have been paid to the banana moth Opogona sacchari (Bojer) since it was found in China in 1997. It distributes almost all over the country now. The recorded host plants have increased from 49 species of 22 families to 104 species of 29 families. The average duration of one generation of banana moth was about 90.5 days. It was conjugated that four generations occur per year in south China. Larval stage, including seven instars, needs about 35 to 75 days. The feeding of larvae under the bark of infected plants is the major reason why the plants are damaged. Twenty-four to 28oC are the suitable temperatures for banana moth to develop. The entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae A24 is an effective biological control agent. The spray of 3000 - nematodes/ml nematode suspensions can be used to control banana moth in field.