Apriona cinerea
ପୋକ
The adult beetle feeds on the bark of shoots. On an infected stem, the scar from egg-laying (oviposition) is very visible. Usually, one crescent-shaped scar is present on each branch of bigger trees. Larval activity is recognized by the presence of galleries (zigzag burrows) under the bark, and later, tunnels in the wood. In young plants, resin bleeds from oviposition holes and larval tunnels in the bark may be seen and also tunnels into the roots are observed. In the early stages of larval growth, frass expulsion holes are close to each other, but as they mature and grow in size, larger frass expulsion holes are formed which are further apart.
Use parasitic nematodes such as Stienernema Pravassos and Heterorhabditis spp., and natural enemies such as Neoplectana nematodes and Elatrid beetle. Inject Beauvaria bassiana into larval holes. Treat wood packaging material according to ISPM 15.
Always consider an integrated approach with preventive measures together with biological treatments, if available. Inject 10 ml of Monocrotophos 36 WSC and plug with wet clay to kill the grub.
Damage is caused by the grub and adult stem borer, however, the grub is more destructive. The grub is light yellow with a dark brown flat head, while the adult is light grey with numerous black tubercles at the base. Eggs are laid on either branches or the main stem under the bark, in oviposition slits, previously chewed out by the female. After 5-7 days the larvae hatch and bore downward in the trunk, creating tunnels to the surface and holes at regular intervals through which droppings (frass) are ejected. The larva is a creamy white legless grub, elongated and cylindrical in shape. The larva of A. cinerea are easier to detect compared with other borers, due to the presence of regular frass expulsion holes.