What's eating my banana passion fruit?

Banana passion fruit is most threatened by Passionflower flower moth (Pyrausta saucia), whose larvae bore into flower tubes causing 60–80% flower drop on commercial farms. Aphids, scale insects, and whiteflies also attack foliage and stems. Knock back sap-suckers with neem oil or insecticidal soap; use pheromone traps for moth monitoring.

Larvae bore into floral tubes, nectaries, and gynophores, causing immature flower buds to drop — up to 60–80% loss on affected farms Monitor with pheromone traps; remove and destroy fallen buds; encourage parasitic wasps as biocontrol; targeted insecticide sprays timed to egg hatch

Cluster on new shoots and tendrils, causing leaf curl and sticky honeydew that promotes sooty mold Blast off with a strong water jet; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; introduce ladybirds or lacewings as natural predators

Appear as hard or waxy bumps on stems and leaf undersides; weaken the vine by sucking sap Scrub lightly with a soft brush dipped in horticultural oil; treat with neem oil spray; prune heavily infested stems

Tiny white-winged adults and nymphs on leaf undersides excrete honeydew, leading to sooty mold and yellowing leaves Use yellow sticky traps to monitor and reduce populations; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray to leaf undersides