Investigations on the Biology and Control of Glenea lefebtteri, a Noxious Longicorn Beetle of Cacao in West New Guinea.

Abstract

In the years 1961 and 1962 the biology and methods of control of the noxious longicorn cacao borer, Glenea lefebueri Guer., were studied in the Vogelkop of West New Guinea. The larva first tunnels superficially in the bark of the stem and thicker branches of Theobroma cacao, and penetrates deeper into the bark as it. matures, making galleries ~n the cambial layer. In this stage equal ;parts of wood and bark tissue are consumed. Finally, the larva makes a tunnel into the wood to pupate. The development from recently hatched egg to the adult stage takes approximately three months. Die-back of branches or death of the whole tree can be the result since branches and the stem are more or less ring-barked by the Larvae.