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

481. Acalolepta rusticatrix (Fb.)This species was found breedingGmelina arborea (Kottapara).in unhealthy and dead treesofThe beetles measure 1.5 to 1.7 mm in length.Body is dark brown incolour marked with transverse patches of grey streaks on the elytra. Prothoraxbroader than long with a stout triangular spine-like process on either side.Elytra narrowed apically.The grubs feed on the bark and outer layers of the steminitially and subsequently bore into the wood tunnelling longitudinalgalleries. Larval activity also leads to the formation of cankers in the caseof live branches. The biology of this beetle is not known.Brief details of each species are given below, followed by a pictorialkey for the identification of the most common species2. Acanthophorus serraticornis Oliv. (Chart I. 1)This species was collected from Erythrina indica (Loc. Kannara) andFicus hispida (Loc. Peechi).Morus alba (Beeson, 1941 ).It also attacks trees like Mangifera indica andThis large longicorn beetle measures 7.5 to 8 5 cm in length. It has areddish tawny colour. On the head, the mandibles are very conspicuous,each provided with two or three strong teeth. Elytra are dull and coriaceous.On the ventral side, the sternum is pubescent.The larvae are stout, cream-coloured and measure about 7 to 10 cmsin length. It attacks the roots and basal trunk region of large trees subsequentlykilling them. When mature, the larva pupates in an oval cocoon ofearth and wood fibres. They attack living trees as well as freshly felledtimber.3 Batocera rubus Linn.This species was collected from Careya arborea ( Loc. Koothuparamba)and Mangifera indica (Loc. Quilon). In addition it is known to attackArtocarpus heterophyllus. Erythrina indica and Morus alba (Beeson. 1941).The beetle is dark brown in colour and measures 4 to 6 cms in length.The prothorax is large and bears 2 Kidney-shaped yellow patches dorsally.