Symptoms of attack and nature of damage

• Larvae enter into the hardwood and make the tunnels may extend even into the roots.
• Tunnels - tightly filed with the excreta of the grubs.
• Infested plants show visible ridges around the stem.
• Yellowing and wilting of leaves.
• Young plants (7 to 8 years old) attacked by the borer may die in a year

Identification of the pest

• Adult - slender, long beetle (2.5 cm).
• Forewings are black with white bands.
• Males are generally smaller than females.
• Head Shows distinctly raised black Ridges and the Hind Leg Femur extends beyond the apex of the Elytra
• In the Female,the Black Ridges on the Head are not much conspicuous and the hind leg Femur does not extend beyond the apex of the Elytra

Management

• Maintain optimum shade on the estates.
• Trace the infested plants - flight periods (i.e, during March and September)
• Every year - looking for ridges on the main stem and thick primaries.
• Collars prune the infested plants, uproot and burn the affected parts.
• Remove the loose scaly bark of the main stem and thick primaries using coir glove or coconut husk – kill the eggs
• Scrubbing during flight periods - kills the eggs and grubs present in the bark region.
• Deep scrubbing should be avoided (sharp implement may injure the green wood and eventually kill the plant)
• Spraying the main stem and thick primaries with neem kernel extract may afford good control of the pest.
• Field release of predators Apenesia sps for effective control of white stem borer
• Field release of white muscardine fungus Beaveria bassiana (2.5 % field infection reported)