Banana Leaf Saver Quiz Quiz

Explore effective banana pest management methods, from identifying key pests to choosing suitable control strategies. This quiz covers practical scenarios relevant to horticultural banana production.

1. Identifying Common Banana Pests

   Which pest is most commonly associated with severe leaf damage in banana plantations worldwide?

   1. Banana leaf roller
   2. Panama disease
   3. Aphids
   4. Banana weevil

   Explanation: Banana leaf roller larvae feed on banana leaves, causing significant damage to the canopy and affecting photosynthesis. Banana weevil primarily damages the plant's corm and stem. Aphids are vectors for viruses but do not typically cause severe leaf damage directly. Panama disease is a soil-borne fungal disease, not an insect pest.

2. Cultural Practices for Pest Management

   Which cultural practice helps reduce banana pest infestations by removing sources of eggs and larvae?

   1. Late harvesting
   2. Over-fertilization
   3. Sanitation or field hygiene
   4. Flood irrigation

   Explanation: Sanitation or field hygiene involves removing old leaves, infected plant parts, and debris, which disrupts pest life cycles. Flood irrigation is used mainly for water management, not specifically for pest control. Over-fertilization may increase pest attraction. Late harvesting can worsen pest incidence rather than prevent it.

3. Biological Control Agents

   Which biological control agent is commonly used against banana aphids in horticulture?

   1. Grasshoppers
   2. Ladybird beetles
   3. Fruit flies
   4. Scale insects

   Explanation: Ladybird beetles are natural predators of banana aphids and help keep their populations in check. Fruit flies and grasshoppers are not predators of aphids. Scale insects are themselves banana pests rather than control agents.

4. Chemical Pest Management Considerations

   When using pesticides for banana pest management, what is an important measure to minimize pest resistance development?

   1. Apply only one pesticide type forever
   2. Ignore pre-harvest intervals
   3. Rotate pesticide modes of action
   4. Use a high dose continuously

   Explanation: Rotating pesticides with different modes of action prevents pests from developing resistance. Using a high dose repeatedly or applying just one pesticide increases resistance risk. Ignoring pre-harvest intervals may lead to unsafe residues but does not address resistance development.

5. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

   In an IPM approach for bananas, what is the main advantage of monitoring pest populations regularly?

   1. Targeting interventions only when needed
   2. Ensuring constant pesticide use
   3. Ignoring beneficial insects
   4. Eliminating all pests completely

   Explanation: Regular monitoring allows growers to apply controls only when pest populations reach damaging levels, reducing costs and environmental impact. Constant pesticide use is not recommended in IPM. Ignoring beneficial insects would be contrary to IPM principles. Eliminating all pests completely is neither practical nor necessary.