Is Scale Injuring Your Bananas?

Female scale insects (above) give the pest its name, staying permanently in feeding sites and feeding, then secreting fibers of wax, which form the protective covers or scales. Epingle® brings dramatic control to scale (graph at right).

Your Answer Is Epingle®

Scales-in-Bananas GraphColonies of scale insects reduce quality on harvested fruit.

The insect typically infests the pseudostem and leaves, then also the fruit. Female scale insects give the pest its name, staying permanently in feeding sites and feeding, then secreting fibers of wax, which form the protective covers or scales. Heavy infestations cause severe damage and will make bananas unmarketable.

Epingle®, from Sumitomo Chemical, is a naturally-occurring insect growth hormone that interferes with the the growth and development of whiteflies, and other pest species, including scale and mealybugs.

Proper application of Epingle® breaks the reproductive cycle of the pest, thereby reducing pest populations and avoiding damage to your banana crop. Epingle® is highly effective in controlling the immature stages of scale, mealybugs and whiteflies, thereby breaking the population cycle and reducing your problems.

Epingle®’s active ingredient pyriproxyfen inhibits embryogenesis in eggs, larval development and metamorphosis, resulting in immature, infertile insects that can’t reproduce. Epingle® also disturbs diapause in target insects, which for many species is a critical part of development.

Use according to label directions has little effect on beneficial insects. Always read and follow label directions.