Grape cane borer

The Grape cane borer (Amphicerus bicaudatus) is a wood-boring beetle belonging to the family Bostrichidae within the order Coleoptera. This insect is a significant pest characterized by its cylindrical, dark-colored body and a distinctively shaped pronotum that hides its head. It is a common challenge for vineyard managers across various climatic regions.

This pest has a wide host range, primarily targeting grapevines, but it also infests several fruit trees such as apple, pear, peach, and plum. The beetle prefers to attack the wood of the vines, particularly focusing on the bases of young shoots and canes. Young, succulent growth is often the most susceptible to initial attacks by adult beetles.

The life cycle of the Grape cane borer includes egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Adults emerge during the spring and early summer months. They bore tunnels into the vines near the buds or leaf axils to deposit eggs. The larvae then bore deeper into the wood, feeding on the internal tissues, which completes their development before pupating within the vine.

The damage caused by this beetle is primarily mechanical. By boring holes into the canes, the beetles disrupt the vascular system, causing the distal part of the shoot to wither and break off easily. This significantly stunts the growth of the vine and, in cases of severe infestation, can lead to the loss of entire fruiting canes, drastically reducing crop yields.

Management strategies focus on cultural practices and targeted chemical interventions. To keep populations under control, follow these steps:

• Prune and destroy all infested canes during the winter months to remove overwintering larvae.
• Monitor the vineyard closely during late spring for fresh boreholes.
• Remove and burn prunings to prevent emerging beetles from re-infesting the vineyard.
• Apply insecticides during the peak activity period of adult beetles if the infestation reaches economic thresholds.