Symptoms
Adults chew corms and pseudostems causing irregular surface damage. Larvae bore into corms creating tunnels and causing decay. Wilting and yellowing of plants from corm damage. Collapsed plants in severe cases.
Prevention
Remove and destroy decaying organic matter near planting areas. Practice crop rotation. Plant healthy, disease-free planting material. Monitor regularly and harvest at maturity without delay.
Treatment
Organic
Apply Beauveria bassiana to soil. Hand remove adults from plants. Apply neem-based soil drenches to target larvae.
Chemical (last resort)
Apply chlorpyrifos granules to soil at planting. Drench soil with insecticide solution at first signs of infestation. Once larvae are inside corms, chemical control is limited.
Affects 1 crop
Sources
MARDI Taro Production Guide; Pacific Community (SPC) Taro Pest Guide