A chocolate-brown butterfly has the potential to wreak havoc on banana plantations in the Indian state of Kerala, publication The Hindu reported. 

Scientists from the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) have called for heightened vigil against the pest Erionota thrax, known by a variety of names including banana leaf roller, banana skipper and palm redeye.

The university's Dr. Arthur Jacob told the publication said the pest had been reported in different locations in the state last year, with infestations described as 'heavy' in the areas of Kalliyoor, Kakkamoola and Pallichal.

He added the damage was spreading to the state's southern reaches, particularly in the major banana-growing area of Thiruvananthapuram.

The expert advocated for the introduction of natural parasites to attack the pest, which starts off as a caterpillar, cutting the edges of leaves and making a series of cylindrical rolls before becoming a pupa, the story reported.

"Chemical control measures are seldom required, but if the manual removal of the leaf rolls is not possible, treatments timed to control the newly hatched larvae may be attempted with the backing of field studies," Jacob was quoted as saying.

The pest is also found in southern China, south-eastern Asia, Papua New Guinea, the Salomon Atoll, Mauritius and Hawaii.

Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, via Wikimedia Commons

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