White-spotted longhorn beetle

The White-spotted longhorn beetle (Batocera lineolata) belongs to the order Coleoptera and the family Cerambycidae. This large wood-boring insect is a significant pest that poses a serious threat to forestry, ornamental landscapes, and various fruit-bearing trees.

The list of host plants damaged by this pest mainly includes broad-leaved species. It is particularly destructive to poplars, willows, horse chestnuts, apple trees, and mulberry trees. The larvae are capable of infesting both stressed and seemingly healthy trees, feeding extensively on the wood.

The biology and lifecycle of this species are defined by its cryptic behavior. Adult beetles are active during the warm season, laying their eggs in the bark crevices of host trees. The larvae hatch and bore deep into the trunk, creating complex tunnels that destroy the vascular system of the plant. Development can take several years.

The damage caused by the larvae involves the destruction of phloem and sapwood tissues. This disruption of nutrient and water transport leads to the wilting of branches, loss of tree vigor, and, in cases of heavy infestation, the total death of the tree or structural failure of the trunk due to internal wood decay.

Management and control strategies include the following:

• Routine field monitoring for signs of infestation, such as frass or emergence holes.
• Sanitary pruning and the immediate removal and destruction of infested wood to prevent adult emergence.
• Application of systemic insecticides specifically targeted at wood-boring insects.
• Promoting biological control through the preservation of natural predators and parasitoids in the ecosystem.