A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE BIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF THE BANANA LEAF SKIPPER, ERIONOTA TORUS EVANS

The banana leaf skipper, Erionota torus Evans, spreading in several provinces in south China, was a severe pest infesting the leaves of bananas. The life-history and biological characters of the banana leaf skipper were observed during 1941-54, in Yongan, Shaxian and Fuzhou.The results indicated that it multiplied four generations yearly; generations were overlapping; and old instar larvae overwintered in the leaf rolls. In 1982-83, further observations were made on the biological characters. The results showed that it was four generations yearly in Fuzhou. The natural enemies of the banana leaf skipper and the natural parasitic enemy rate were investigated. 8 species of parasitic enemies were attained in the stages of eggs, larvae and pupae when they were bred in the laboratory. Deltamethrin, DDVp or Malathion was sprayed on the young larvae.They all had good(and the first had the best)effects.