Trichoferus griseus (Fabricius)
Common name: Fig longicorn.
Systematic position: Insecta, Holometabola, Coleoptera, Cerambycidae.
Morphology: Adults about 10-18mm in length, red-brown, dorsum with many grey spots.
Geographical distribution: Mediterranean basin, Iran.
Host plants: Infests many broad-leafed trees, especially figs (Ficus carica L.).
Life history: A life cycle may last for about 2 years. The adults appear in May-September, mate and lay about 90 eggs/female on the host tree. The non-feeding adults live for 1 week. The larvae bore into large tree branches and trunks and pupate there.
Economic importance: The boring of the larvae causes increasing damage as heavily infested trees weaken and may die. Trichoferus griseus is among the most damaging pests of figs in North-Western Egypt.
Management
Mechanical control: Pruning and removal of heavily infested branches may reduce overall damage.
Mass trapping: Traps baited with unmarketable figs, a little water and any available pesticide provided data on seasonal pest occurrence.
Chemical control: The insecticide Bensulpat provided some control provided some control in Turkey.in Turkey.
REFERENCES
Civelek, H.S. and Çolak, A.M. 2008. Effects of some plant extracts and bensultap on Trichoferus griseus (Fabricius, 1792)(Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 4: 721-725.
Imam, A. and Porcelli, F. 2017. Effectiveness of sustainable home-made Mcphail traps in mass capturing of longicorn beetle, Trichoferus griseus (Fabricius) adults under the rain-fed conditions of Matrouh Governorate–Egypt. Entomology, Ornithology. & Herpetology: Current Research. 6: 1-5.
Wang, Q. (ed.) 2017. Cerambycidae of the World: Biology and Pest Management CRC Press, pp.628.
Website