Host preference of Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel and P. caladii van der Goot (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on various host plants

Abstract

Abstract Pentalonia nigronervosa and P. caladii are insect vectors of Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) that cause banana bunchy top disease. The disease is considered an economically essential problem because it may cause significant yield loss. This study aimed to provide information on the host preferences of Pentalonia on various host plants. The research was conducted from September 2019 to January 2020 at the Insect Biosystematics Laboratory and Cikabayan Greenhouse, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University. The host preference test was carried out in a 200 cm x 200 cm x 150 cm wire screen cage. Dieffenbachia sp. was placed in the center of the cage, and the other plants were placed around it with a distance between plants of 50 cm. As many as sixty adults of Pentalonia were infested on Dieffenbachia sp. They were given time to move freely to the other host plants. The test was carried out for one month with observation intervals of three days. The t-test shows that Pentalonia is not significantly different on either Costus sp. and Dieffenbachia sp. with the value of P>0.164 and P>0.321, respectively. The preferred host by P. nigronervosa based on the highest population is the family Musaceae, whereas P. caladii highly preferred the family Araceae (Taro).