Mango stem borer and its management

S.N.: Batocera rufomaculata (Cerembycidae: Coleoptera)

• Occasional pest
• Amlet and mulgoa varities are highly susceptible
• Also attacks fig, rubber, jack, eucalyptus etc.

Appearance: 

• Adult large, grayish with two pink spots and lateral spines on thorax
• Grubs white, long with well developed head

Biology

• life cycle : One year
• Eggs are laid singly on bark
• IP- 10-15 days: LP- 3-6 months; PP- 1-2 months
• Pupation inside the tunnel

Nature of damage:

• Grubs feed by tunneling through the bark of branches/stem
• Make irregular galleries in the stem
• Chewed material and excreta will be thrown out of the branches

Damage symptoms:

• Wilting of branches and main stem
• Oozing of dark liquid from entry hole and accumulation of frass on the ground

Management:

• Mechanical removal of grubs from the stem
• If not inject DDVP or Chloroform through entry hole plug it with mud