Coffee White Stem Borer

Xylotrechus quadripes

Appearance

Adult: Black elongate with grey pubescence on head, thorax and elytra , white cross bands on elytra; Grub: White or yellowish, anterior end broader and tapering towards tail end.

Life Cycle

Eggs (50-100), laid in the crevices of the bark on stem, larvae hatch in 8-10 days and feed for 8-9 months and pupates in stem itself and emerges as adult after 25- 30 days, adult emerge in large numbers at two distinct period from April to May and October to November.

Notes

One of the important pests of coffee in India, grubs burrow into the stem for 8-9 months and cause wilting of branches, occasionally leading to death of bushes