Pentalonia nigronervosa

Overview

A tropical and subtropical aphid species with a preference for banana.

Common names

Banana aphid.

Distribution

This aphid is a tropical and subtropical aphid species. It has been introduced greenhouses in Europe and North America.

Host associations

It has a narrow host range, limited to mostly banana and other Musa species (Musaceae), but occasionally is found on Heliconia (Heliconiaceae).

Economic importance

It is particularly important on banana and its varieties. It can easily be confused with its congener, P. caladii, which is found in similar habitats, but typically feeds on ginger (Zingiberaceae), taro (Araceae), and related species. It has been implicated in the transmission of three plant viruses.

Additional resources

See also. Taxonomy at Aphid Species File; Aphids on the World's Plants.

References

Blackman, R.L. and V.F. Eastop. 2000. Aphids on the World’s Crops, Second Edition. John Wiley & Sons with the Natural History Museum, London. x + 466 pages, 58 figures, 51 plates.

Blackman, R.L. and V.F. Eastop. 2006. Aphids on the World’s Herbaceous Plants and Shrubs. Volume 2 The Aphids. John Wiley & Sons with the Natural History Museum, London. viii + pages 1025–1439.

Chan, C.K., A.R. Forbes, and D.A. Raworth. 1991. Aphid-transmitted viruses and their vectors of the world. Agriculture Canada Technical Bulletin 1991–3E. 1–216 pp.

Foottit, R.G., H.E.L. Maw, K.S. Pike, and R.H. Miller. The identity of Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel and P. caladii van der Goot (Hemiptera: Aphididae) based on molecular and morphometric analysis. Zootaxa 2358:25-38.

Holman, J. 2009. Host Plant Catalog of Aphids, Palaearctic Region. Springer Science and Business Media B.V. 1216 pp.

Voegtlin, D., W. Villalobos, M.V. Sanchez, G.Saborio, and C. Rivera. A Guide to the Winged Aphids of Costa Rica. 2003. International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation 51(Suppl. 2):xi + 228 pp.

Scientific name

Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel, 1859