a survey of beetles damaging commercially impotrtant ... - Icrisat.ac.in

16Large borersNil11. Calophyllum elatum Bedd.(C. tomentosum Sensu T. And.)GuttiferaeSmall borersSinoxylon anale Les.(B ost ryc h idae)Heterobostrychus aequalis Wat. ( I , )The sapwood portion is heavily attacked by Sinoxylon anale andHeterobostrychus aeqoalis rendering it unfit for use in making furniture,cabinets and heavy packing cases.No borers have been recorded previously in this timber.Large borersNilSmall borersXylothrips flavipes12. Canarium strictum Roxb.B urseraceaeI I I. ( B ostryc h idae)Minthea rugicollis W Ik.(Lyctidae)Platypus nilgiricus Bees. (Platypodidae)Debarked timber was found to be more susceptible to attack byPlatypus nilgiricus. The tunnels extend deep into the heartwood but mostdamage was superficial. In the case of freshly cut logs with bark, a thickexudation of gum following insect injury apparently serves as a deterrent tothe establishment of borers.The major use of this timber is in veneer andpacking case industries where damage by this borer is often a problem.Xylothrips flavipes (Bostrychidae) confine its attack to the outer sapwoodportion resulting in the loss of several layers of veneers while peeling.The lyctid, Minthea rugicollis attacks sawn timber causing serious damage(Fig. 6).Bhasin & Roonwal (1958) have recorded 88 species of beetles on thisjimber which include Xylothrips flavipes (Bostrychidae) and Platypus solidus(Platypodidae) which are common in Kerala. P. nilgiricus has not previouslybeen recorded on this timber.