The banana stalk borer Castniomera humboldti (Boisduval) in La Estrella Valley, Costa Rica. V Cultural control

Abstract

Studies conducted on the control of the banana borer, Castniomera humboldti (Boiduval) (Castniidae, Lepidoptera) in giant Cavendish bananas in the Estrella Valley, Costa Rica, demonstrated that pruning and cleanliness practices achieved excellent control by making the environment around the banana plants unfavorable for oviposition. Five cultural practices were compared. It was found that the cleaner the crop, the more adverse the environment for the female to lay eggs. The practices employed in this experiment and their effectiveness are discussed.