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

1. Cherry stem borer

1. Cherry stem borer - Aeolesthes holosericca F. (Cerambycidae: Coleoptera)

Damage

• The newly hatched out grub tunnels the bark and makes zig - zag galleries.
• The grown up grub bores in to the stem deeply and damages the woody tissues.
• The infested plant withers and gradually dies. The bore hole is plugged with excreta.
Bionomics

• The adult beetle is dark brown measuring 38-45 mm in length.
• It lays eggs on the dry wood portion or increases of out on the bark.
• The egg period is 7-12 days.
• The grubs is yellowish in colour and are covered with fine bristles, measuring 70-80 mm long the larval period is completed in 27-32 months.
• It pupates either in October-November or in March -April.
• The pupal period ranges from 40-100 days.
• The total life cycle is completed in 31% - 36 months.