INCIDENCE OF ARISTOBIA OCTOFASCICULATA AURIVILLIUS (CERAMBYCIDAE: COLEOPTERA), THE HEARTWOOD BORER PEST OF SANDALWOOD (Santalum album Linn.) TREES.

摘要

The wood of Santalum album Linn, is seriously damaged by the heartwood borer, Aristobia octofasciculata Aurivillius (Cerambycidae: Coleóptera). The pest is distributed in sandal areas of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The life cycle is annual and the adult beetles are on wing immediately after the first rains during April-May. As a result of the past attack/the younger plants showed die back symptoms. The number of bore holes on stem ranged from 1 to 10 or more. Holes measuring 1-2 cm arefound leading to tunnels of average length of 2 metres. Studies in the infested plantations at Yelwala, Mysore indicated that the average infestation was 37% with a range of 24 - 42% in different girth classes. Sandal trees in the girth classes, 11-15 cms and 16 - 20 cms were more prone for A. octofasciculata infestation. Insecticidal sprays on the trees did not prove effective in controlling the pest infestation.