Insect Pests of Fruit, Plantation, Medicinal & Aromatic Crops (2+1)

1. Stem borer - Apriona cinerea Chaverlot. (Lamidae: Coleoptera)

Damage

• The grub bores into twigs causing circuitous galleries.
• The infested branches have small circular hole and mass of excreta and chewed up wood particles protruding out.
• The barks of branches are gnawed and leaves defoliated.
Bionomics

• The adult beetle is ashy grey with numerous black tubercles at the base of elytra.
• The female lays eggs inside the cavity, which is excavated on shoots.
• The incubation period is 7-8 days.
• The grub is creamy yellow with the dark brownish head.
• The grub undergoes hibernation during winter and resumes feeding in March, reaching the tree trunk by autumn (September-October) again go in hibernation during winter.
• It pupates inside the tunnel. The pupal period is 30-35 days.