Chlorophorus varius

Chlorophorus varius Müller

(A subspecies, Chlorophorus varius damascene Chevrolat, was described in Southern Turkey).

Common name: Grape wood borer.

Systematic position: Insecta, Holometabola, Coleoptera, Cerambycidae.

Distribution: Southern Europe, Middle East and Egypt.

Morphology: The adults are 8-13 mm in length, Larvae up to 15 mm. Adult dorsum, including thorax and abdomen yellow, with several transverse black markings. One across the thorax, two across the posterior part of the elytra and one, in the form of an inverted U, on the anterior part of each elytron. Dorsum covered with a yellow pubescence. Antennae and legs dark brown.

Host plants: Citrus, grapevines, mango, peach and the flowers of various Umbelliferae (Apiaceae).

Life history: The larvae occur and feed on the stems and twigs of weakened trees. Development usually requires two years, adults being active on mango during spring and summer.

Economic importance: Chlophorus varius is a dominant and an economically important boring insect pest in several fruit orchards, such as citrus and mango.

Management

Horticultural control: Removal of twigs that show damage.

Plant susceptibility: Among Citrus species, those with bitter fruits, like lemons, lime and the sour orange, are little attacked, whereas oranges and grapefruits are the most susceptible.

Biological control: The braconid Iphiaulax impostor (Scopoli) attacks the pest in Turkey.

References

Bolu, H., Beyarslan, A., Zafer Aktürk and Yildirim, H. 2010. Chlorophorus varius damascenus (Chevrolat 1854) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), a new host record for Iphiaulax impostor (Scopoli 1763) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Turkey.
Turkish Journal of Biological Science 1: 81-85.

Hashim, S.M. 2013. Monitoring Chlorophorus varius Mull. in mango orchards in Egypt . Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research 91: 1319-1326.

Hashim, S. M., Tadros, A. W. and Abdel Hamid, E.A. 2014. The relative susceptibility and monitoring of citrus species/varieties to Chlorophorus varius Mull. In citrus orcahrds in Egypt. Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research 92: 9-19.

Website https://www.google.co.il/search?q=chlorophorus+varius&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQ7Iz554fUAhUCZlAKHfcWBLIQsAQIKA&biw=1280&bih=667