BANANA ROOT-BORER 



By G. F. Moznette; ^ 



Entomological Inspector, Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Insect Investigations, Bureau 

 of Entomology, United States Department of Agriculture 



INTRODUCTION 



The existence in Florida of a root-weevil peculiar to the banana was 

 brought to the writer's attention in December, 191 7, by the receipt of 

 some specimens from a grower near Larkins, in Dade County, Fla., who 

 advised the writer of serious damage to his banana plants. The insect 

 was determined by Dr. W. Dwight Pierce at Washington, D. C, as the 

 banana root-borer. Cosmopolites sordidus Germar, a dangerous banana 

 pest prevalent in almost every section where bananas are grown for 

 commercial purposes. Since this species and all plants infested with 

 it had been declared to be public nuisances in Florida, the State Plant 

 Board at Gainesville, Fla., was immediately notified, and eradication and 

 inspection work was begun. It was during the eradication and inspec- 

 tion work that the writer, cooperating with members of the State 

 Plant Board, was enabled to make a number of observations on the 

 habits of this species; and it was thought well to publish the following 

 data to aid others who may find this pest of the banana in the State of 

 .Florida or wherever bananas are grown. 



A national quarantine was placed on this species April i, 1918. This 

 quarantine forbids the importation into the United States from foreign 

 coantries where the banana root-borer exists of all species and varieties of 

 banana plants (Musa spp.) or portions thereof, except for experimental 

 and scientific purposes. 



The spread of the insect from one country to another is probably 

 accomplished by the transportation of infested suckers for planting 

 (jj, p. 33-34) f and its spread within any locality most likely follows the 

 killing out of infested stools, after which the adults travel in search of 

 fresh supplies of food plants. Within a locality they could also be spread 

 by the transportation of infested suckers or young plants for propagation. 



HISTORY AND DISTRIBUTION 



The adult (PI. 8) was described as Calandra sordida by Germar (6) in 

 1824. The genus Cosmopolites was established for this species by Chev- 

 rolat {3) in 1885. 



E. Fleutiaux (5) recorded it from Madagascar in 1903, stating that 

 it was a serious enemy of the banana on that island. In 1908 C. H. 

 Knowles (9) mentioned carbon disulphid as a means of control in the 



' Technical descriptions of the stages of the weevil by W. Dwight Pierce. 

 - Reference is made by number (italic) to " Literature cited," p. 46. 



Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. XTX, No. i 



Washington, D. C. Apr. i, 1020 



tw (39) Key No. K.-S4 



