Natural Enemies of Banana Insect Pests Parasitoids Predators Flowering plants that attract natural enemies/repel pests Natural enemies Attractant/repellent/trap plants Banana aphid · Predators: Coccinellids such as Scymnus, Chilomenes sexmaculatus, lacewings such as Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi, predatory mantids, ladybird beetles and parasitic wasps • Attractant plants: Carrot family, sunflower family, marigold, buckwheat, spear mint (syrphid mite, lace wing, minute pirate bug, damselbug and ladybird beetle) • Cosmos, brambles (praying mantis) • Nectar rich plants with small flowers i.e anise, caraway, dill, parsley, mustard. (aphid parasite and Braconid wasp) sunflower, buckwheat and cowpea (Braconid wasp) Hard scale insects · Predators: Parasitic wasps, lacewings, ladybird beetles, ants and predatary mites. • Nectar rich plants with small flowers i.e. anise, caraway, dill, parsley, mustard, sunflower, buckwheat and cowpea attract parasitic wasps, predatory mites, Braconid wasp • Corn flower (Centaurea cyanus), coriander, sunflower, cosmos attract lacewings. • French bean attract predatory mites Leaf eating caterpillar • Egg parasitoids: Telenomus spodopterae, T. remus • Larval parasitoids: Ichneumon sp, Carcelia spp Campoletis chlorideae • Pupal parasitoid: Ichneumon sp • Predators: Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi, Coccinellids, King crow, Braconid wasp, dragon fly, spider, robber fly, reduviid, praying mantis, red ants • Nematode parasite: Ovomermis albicans • Attractant plants: Carrot family, sunflower family, buckwheat, alfalfa, corn, shrubs (minute pirate bug & lace wing) • Nectar rich plants with small flowers i.e. anise, caraway, dill, parsley, mustard, sunflower, buckwheat and cowpea attract parasitic wasps, predatory mites, Braconid wasp • Corn flower (Centaurea cyanus), coriander, sunflower, cosmos attract lacewings. • French bean attracts predatory mites Thrips • Parasitoid: Ceranisus menes, • Predators: Lacewings, ladybird beetles. Syrphid fly, minute pirate bug, predatory thrips, spiders, damselbug. • Attractant plants: Carrot family, sunflower family, buckwheat, alfalfa, corn, corn flower (Centaurea cyanus), coriander, cosmos attract lacewings, minute pirate bug & lacewings IPM for Banana To know the IPM practices for Banana, click here. Source: NIPHM, and Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage