Banana Lacewing

The Banana Lacewing Bug is a brand new pest to Hawai’i Island, and indeed to the United States as a whole. The name of this new insect may lead you to want to believe that it only affects banana trees, but this is a dangerously misleading title - it has been known to affect the following trees / plants:

• Banana and plantains of all varieties

• Turmeric

• Soursop

• Coconut

• Cinnamon

• Ginger

• Chempedak

• Taro

• African Oil Palm

• Cardamom

• Heliconia

Identification of these insects immediately is imperative to control. The Department of Agriculture is particularly concerned about the possibility of these bugs as a vector to spreading additional diseases of the coconut palms, which could be exceptionally detrimental and dangerous to all Hawaiian islands.

Please do not transport material known to be infested with these - or indeed any - biological pests. Containment and elimination are the best methods for keeping the rest of our islands clear from these detrimental bugs! If you prune infested material from plants or trees, please either safely burn the cuttings, or bag them in an airtight plastic bag to contain the insects prior to disposal.

And as always, let me know if you have any questions!

yours in a tree,

Becky