BIOLOGY OF APHIDS :
The banana aphids,Pentalomia negrinervosa, infest many tropical and subtropical food and ornamental plants, including Alpinia purpurata (floral red and pink ginger), Xanthosoma (ape), cardamom, Heliconia, tomatoes, taro, Calla, Costus, kahili ginger, torch ginger, and Zingiber
LIFE CYCLE
Reproduction in the banana aphid is entirely parthenogenetic (without mating). Females give birth to live female young. Males are not known for this species. The life cycle (nymph to adult) is completed in 9 to 16 days. The adult life span ranges from 8 to 26 days; there could be as many as 30 generations produced per year in Hawaii.. BIOLOGY OF APHIDS
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EGG-There is no egg stage. Young are born live.
NYMPHS-The banana aphid has four nymphal stages.
Newborn nymphs are oval at first and become slightly elongated. They are reddish brown, with four segmented antennae, and measure 1/250 inch in length.
The second stage nymphs are similar in appearance and measure approximately 7/250 inch long.
The third nymphal stage individuals are light brown, measuring about 9/250 inch in length; the compound eyes are more noticeable beginning with this stage, and the nymphs have five-segmented antennae.
The fourth stage nymphs have six-segmented antennae, are light brown in color, and are 1/25 inch long. The first, second, third, and fourth nymphal stages last 2 to 4, 3 to 4, 2 to 4, and 2 to 4 days, respectively .
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ADULTS
Adult banana aphids are small to medium sized aphids (1/25 to 1/12 inch), shiny, reddish to dark brown or almost black. They have six-segmented antennae that are as long as the body. Alates have prominent, dark (brown or black) wing veins.
Adults start producing young one day after reaching maturity. They can give birth to 4 aphids per day with an average production of 14 offspring per female.