Motschulsky's longhorn beetle

Motschulsky's longhorn beetle (Chlorophorus motschulskyi) belongs to the family Cerambycidae, within the order Coleoptera. This species is a specialized wood-borer that develops within the tissues of woody plants during its larval stage, causing significant damage to host trees.

The pest primarily targets broad-leaved trees and shrubs. Its biology is closely linked to weakened or recently felled wood, but when population densities are high, the beetles can infest healthy specimens, gradually suppressing their physiological health and vigor.

The insect's life cycle involves complete metamorphosis. Females lay eggs in bark crevices or mechanical wounds on the trunks. Upon hatching, the larvae bore into the phloem and sapwood, creating winding galleries that disrupt sap flow and lead to gradual wood necrosis.

Damage symptoms include a network of galleries filled with frass (sawdust-like excrement). Presence of the pest can be identified by characteristic emergence holes in the bark and localized wilting of branches or parts of the trunk. The pest causes loss of aesthetic value and, in severe cases, the death of the host tree.

Control measures require an integrated approach: regular sanitary pruning of infested branches, timely removal of dead or dying wood, and the application of contact insecticides during the adult flight period. Maintaining tree health through proper irrigation and fertilization remains the best long-term preventive strategy.

• Monitor for exit holes on tree trunks.
• Prune and destroy heavily infested branches.
• Use pheromone traps if available for population tracking.