Jose263

I was asked for help by a local fellow gardener with his nana plant.
Sorry no pictures yet - It looks like it might be a real blue java - tallest pstem is approx 14 feet. overgrown by weeds -
Some but not all of the top leaves are shredded and are missing sections of leaves like they have been eaten by insects - no wind to explain shredding.
lower cigar leaves have hole patterns like a grub.
I have tried to find the recent post on a similar problem but haven't found it.
Looking for advice on how to attack the problem.. how do you find the suspected grubs? what treatment is dooable?
Thanks
I'll be going back later this week to help - BTW there is a goldfinger mat close by but not affected.

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Growing: Orinoco, Rajapuri, Dwarf Cav, SDC, TT, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Namwah, Tall Namwah (aka Ice Cream), Dwarf Brazilian, Veinte Cohol, California Gold, Double Mohai, NOT-Goldfinger, Gran Nain, Velutina

Darkman

Hi TJ,

Don't know if you noticed but the tall mat at the back of my garden that we discussed as being Goldfinger but maybe not has the same issue. Hopefully some one will know what this is.

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

blownz281

Do you notice grass hoppers around at all? Here in coastal NC we have small green grasshoppers and large cheese stick sized mixed color ones that eat leaves on my nanners. Catipillars as well will do the same.

blownz281

Ps these pest only eat certain nanner leaves,other they don't touch.

Snookie

Pooh Yaah

If we had cheese stick sized grass hoppers we could catch us some big Choupique fish like dat one yeah

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Mayor of Lizard Creek

blownz281

Snakehead family?

Darkman

Bowfin I think!

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

Snookie

Recipe

Remove un-eater Big Grass Hoppers and prepare as described below:}

Whewwww I like Dat Me!


Ingredients:

1 Whole Choupique
2 tablespoon Tony Chacheres Original Creole Seasoning
1/2 cup Oil
2 Whole Chopped Onions
1 Whole Chopped Bell Pepper
8 Whole Garlic (minced)
1 can Tomato Sauce
1 can Rotel Tomatoes
2 cup Water
1/2 cup Lemon Juice
1 can Mushrooms
1/2 cup Chopped Green Onion
1/4 cup Chopped Parsley


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Directions:

1: Cut fillets in to small pieces.

2: Season with Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning and fry in oil in Dutch oven until firm.

3: Remove fillets from the oil.

4: Add onions, bell pepper, and garlic to the oil; saute' until tender.

5: Add tomato sauce, Rotel tomatoes, and water.

6: Add fillets and bring to a boil.

7: Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.

8: Do not stir; instead, gently lift the pot off the burner with both hands and tilt it from side to side.

9: Do this once or twice during cooking to prevent fillets from breaking apart.

10: Add lemon slices, mushrooms, green onions, and parsley; cook over low heat for another 15 minutes.

11: Serve over steamed rice.

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Mayor of Lizard Creek

Jose263

Both mats are in wooded area -I guess it could be hoppers or other critters eating the leaves - I don't have that problem in my mats.
I'll check out closer on Thurs.

When is dinner?

__________________
Growing: Orinoco, Rajapuri, Dwarf Cav, SDC, TT, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Namwah, Tall Namwah (aka Ice Cream), Dwarf Brazilian, Veinte Cohol, California Gold, Double Mohai, NOT-Goldfinger, Gran Nain, Velutina

Jose263

Yep - i recall the mat---- I don't think it is GF but could be mistaken - can you post a pic for the experts.

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Growing: Orinoco, Rajapuri, Dwarf Cav, SDC, TT, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Namwah, Tall Namwah (aka Ice Cream), Dwarf Brazilian, Veinte Cohol, California Gold, Double Mohai, NOT-Goldfinger, Gran Nain, Velutina

bananimal

If those holes run in a straight line across the leaves after they unfurl then it's the dreaded grubby bugger. They love my Ae Ae. All other naners are unaffected. I squirt bug juice into the petioles and the problem stops. Gets interesting when the naner trunk is over 10 ft high from where the cigars pop out.



The dreaded grubby bugger --- half an inch of non stop eating machine.

Jose263

bananimal
His leaves look like your ae ae - except the top ones are badly shredded- but that may be due to the holes.
Thanks

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Growing: Orinoco, Rajapuri, Dwarf Cav, SDC, TT, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Namwah, Tall Namwah (aka Ice Cream), Dwarf Brazilian, Veinte Cohol, California Gold, Double Mohai, NOT-Goldfinger, Gran Nain, Velutina

bananimal

The wind tears up grub damaged leaves real easy. Like tearing out a page in a perforated notepad.

PR-Giants

Are you sure it's not Nessie messing with your Ae Ae, it's just hard to believe a grub as skinny as a piece of spaghetti can eat that much.

He's got to travel at night, a few seconds in sunlight he's one dead black grub.

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bananimal

Look at the pattern - it's horizontal. In the pic he starts from right to left heading for the midrib. He then sleeps and poops and when he's hungry again he bores the next hole. He's so happy he keeps it up. The top part of the leaf, when he started munching, shows 3 bore holes. Moving down the pic leaf's torn and folded. The bottom of the pic has 4 more bores.

By this time he's floating in banana leaf mierda and he's so happy he can't wait to drill another one. You know, like drinking beers at the local bar on Sat nite. Ya just can't stop.

The top is where he started. I take a hand sprayer and spray in the top petiole till runoff. Then the next 3 or 4 openings. It works. The next leaf to emerge is clean. Top to bottom.

He never sees sunlight . He's wearing a poop poncho. As for how he makes it up there that's a good question. I think there are some birds that pick them off the ground and fly up to the top of the banana pstems. They find they don't taste so good and spit them out into the petioles. There ya go!

Dangermouse01

The grub like banamial showed, are not really "spaghetti thin", usually about the size all three joints on your pinkie finger (or larger).

I've yet to find one of those in any of my banana plants, but I have found caterpillars that do the same type of damage.

DM

Darkman

I think I found the problem with mine.

SQUIRRELLS! AKA Grey Tree Rat!

Caught one eating today and he left evidence all over the ground.

__________________
Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

PR-Giants

Thanks DM, I thought the "half an inch" was it's length,

using a 5 to 1 ratio I estimated the width to be 2.5 mm.

I had know idea those things are 3.5" to 4" long.

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15,000+ Varieties

Jose263

So, either a 12ga. or insecticide should solve the problem

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Growing: Orinoco, Rajapuri, Dwarf Cav, SDC, TT, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Namwah, Tall Namwah (aka Ice Cream), Dwarf Brazilian, Veinte Cohol, California Gold, Double Mohai, NOT-Goldfinger, Gran Nain, Velutina

bananimal

Nah --- they are a half to 3/4 inch long and about as wide as a 1/4 inch drill bit. I researched what they were once but who cares --- they show up when the Ae Ae are anywhere from 3 ft tall to mature height. Just juice em --- anything but systemics.