Bionomics of three Philicoptus banana pests (Coleoptera: curculionidae) and notes on other weevils in Mindanao, Philippines
1984
Stephens, C.S. (United Brands Company, Puerto Armuelles (Panama))
Conflicting data on the taxonomy, distribution and bionomics of weevils in and near banana plantations in Mindanao were reviewed. Several weevils were suspected to be banana peel-scarring pests but only three species were found to feed on banana fingers in the field. Philicoptus iliganus (Heller) is the most severe pest and is found in the south banana zone west of Davao City. Another Philicoptus which could not be identified as to species is present in the north banana zone to the north and to the east of the Lasang River. This weevil is only an occasional pest of bananas. P. demissus (Heller) is a pest of bananas near General Santos. Other species of Philicoptus were collected but these are not known banana pests. Weevil species of Metapocyrtus were collected from coffee, cacao, citrus, avocado and other economic plants but none were implicated as banana pests. Field studies with soil traps showed that adults of P. iliganus emerged from bare soil in banana plantings. This suggests that larvae develop on banana roots since there were no other hosts plants to feed on
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