What's eating my passiflora quadrangularis?

Giant granadilla (Passiflora quadrangularis) is an edible tropical vine whose main pest threats are aphids, mealybugs, and fruit-piercing moths outdoors. In fruit-growing regions, nematodes can damage roots. Caterpillars of passion-vine butterflies readily devour foliage. Prompt action protects both the vine and the large edible fruit.

Dense colonies on new shoots and flower buds cause curling, stunted growth, sticky honeydew, and secondary sooty mould. Remove by hand or strong water spray; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage natural predators such as lacewings and hoverflies.

White cottony masses in leaf axils and at stem joints; sap-sucking weakens the vine and deposits honeydew causing sooty mould. Dab individual colonies with a cotton bud dipped in rubbing alcohol; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat fortnightly.

Larvae systematically strip leaves and tender shoots, sometimes leaving only bare stems on vigorous growth flushes. Hand-pick eggs and larvae daily; spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) on young caterpillars; use fine mesh netting over new growth.

Adults pierce ripe fruit at night, leaving entry wounds that allow rot organisms in; fruit drops prematurely. Bag individual developing fruits in paper or fine mesh; use light traps to reduce adult populations; harvest fruit promptly at maturity.