Fig borer beetle

The Fig borer beetle (Aclees cribratus) is a significant coleopteran pest belonging to the Curculionidae family. Originally native to Southeast Asia, it has become a serious invasive threat to fig orchards (Ficus carica) in various parts of the world, particularly in Mediterranean climates where fig cultivation is prominent.

The primary host plant for this species is the fig tree. The beetle attacks both young saplings and mature trees. Because the larval stage is completed inside the woody tissues of the trunk and branches, the infestation is often hidden until substantial internal damage has already occurred, complicating early detection.

The life cycle consists of egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Adult beetles are primarily nocturnal, feeding on bark and leaves. Females typically deposit eggs into small incisions made in the bark of trunks or larger branches. Upon hatching, the larvae bore directly into the wood, creating extensive galleries that disrupt the vascular flow of the tree.

The damage caused by Aclees cribratus is characterized by severe structural weakening of the tree, yellowing foliage, and branch dieback. Heavily infested trees may exhibit sap exudation and the accumulation of frass (sawdust-like excrement) around the base of the trunk. If left unmanaged, the tree’s vitality drops significantly, eventually leading to mortality.

Management strategies for this pest are essential for orchard health:

• Strict quarantine and inspection of all imported fig planting material.
• Regular visual monitoring for exit holes and frass deposits on trunks.
• Sanitation, including the prompt removal and burning of infested wood.
• Chemical control targeted at adults during their active period to prevent egg laying.