Pentalonia Nigronervosa Coquerel And Pentalonia Caladii Van Der Goot (Hemiptera: Aphididae) And Their Relationship To Banana Bunchy Top Virus In Micronesia

Geographical distribution of Pentalonia nigronervosa and P. caladii, and incidence of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) were determined in Micronesia. Aphids and plant tissues were collected from banana and nonbanana hosts of Pentalonia aphids in Palau, Yap, Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Majuro. Aphids were identified based on host species from which they were collected and on morphometric analysis of length of ultimate rostral segment. All plant samples were tested for presence or absence of BBTV using a triple antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TAS-ELISA). TAS-ELISA analysis confirmed BBTV to be present on Guam, Saipan, and Rota, but BBTV was not detected elsewhere in Micronesia.