Residue Configuration for Banana Weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus Germar) Management: Effects of Alternating, Chopped and Prostrate Banana Residues at Different Distances in South-Western Uganda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t4423Abstract
The banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an important constraint to East African highland banana production because larval feeding damages the corm and basal tissues, weakens plant anchorage and can reduce productivity over successive crop cycles. Banana residues can function simultaneously as agronomic resources and as habitat for adult weevils, making their configuration and placement relevant to integrated pest management. This study evaluated the effects of residue configuration, distance from the standing banana mat, season and study site on adult C. sordidus abundance in south-western Uganda. A four-factor factorial field experiment was implemented in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Bubare, Mbarara District, and Kaberebere, Isingiro District, during dry and rainy seasons. Three residue configurations Alternating, Prostrate and Chopped were established at 0–1, 2–3 and 4–5 m from standing Kibuzi banana mats. Adult abundance was monitored weekly for 10 consecutive weeks, and the 10 observations for each replicate were averaged before factorial ANOVA. Residue configuration, distance, season and site each had significant main effects (P < 0.001), whereas none of the interaction terms was significant. Alternating residues had the highest mean abundance (11.69 ± 0.50 adults), followed by Prostrate residues (8.42 ± 0.50) and Chopped residues (5.17 ± 0.50). Abundance declined from 11.33 ± 0.50 adults at 0–1 m to 8.33 ± 0.50 at 2–3 m and 5.61 ± 0.50 at 4–5 m. Rainy-season abundance (10.39 ± 0.40) was approximately 60.8% higher than dry-season abundance (6.46 ± 0.40), while Bubare recorded higher abundance (9.44 ± 0.40) than Kaberebere (7.41 ± 0.40). The findings indicate that residue structure and spatial position are associated with adult weevil aggregation. They support targeted habitat modification and strategic residue placement rather than blanket removal of banana residues. Because the study measured adult abundance rather than mortality, crop damage or yield, the observed aggregation patterns should not be interpreted as direct evidence of control efficacy.
Keywords: Banana weevil; Cosmopolites sordidus; Banana residues; Residue configuration; Habitat modification; Crop sanitation; Integrated pest management.
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