STEM BORER

Scientific Name: Coelosterna spinator (Febricius)
Family: Coleoptera
Order :Cerambycidae

Coelosterna spinator (Febricius) have been reported boring the stems and trunk of pomegranate trees. It is polyphagous pest causing minor damage.It prefers breeding in dead wood but also attacks the living branches.

 

 Appearance:

 Adult beetles have pale yellowish-brown body with light grey elytra and are 30 to 35 mm long

 

Adult

 Life cycle:      

Egg period is 12 to 15 days, grub 9 to 10 months and pupal period is16 to 18 days.There is only one generation per year  and longevity of beetles is 45 to 60 days.

Eggs

Grubs

Pupa

Nature of damage:

The grubs bore inside the trunk and feed on sapwood. Adult beetles are active by the day and feed by gnawing the green   bark of shoots.

Damage symptoms:

Holes on bark of main stems, excreta and dry powdered material are usually seen near the base of plants

 

Powder fallen on ground due to stem borer