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Flatheaded woodborer

Description, Biology, Life Cycle, Damage, Common Names, Images

[R]Biology
- Host plants: pear, apricot, almond and other stone-fruit species.
- Adult: average fecundity: 300 eggs; egg-laying occurs only above 25°C (May to October in Portugal).
Longevity: between 2 and 4 months for the females emerging in May; less than 15 months for the females emerging in July/August (including a hibernation period).
- Eggs: incubation period, between 10 and 20 days depending on the temperature.
- Larva: slow-developing: from eclosion until pupation between 10 and 12 months.
- pupation period: about 1 month.

[R]Life Cycle
Females produced in July lay their eggs in the same summer; those produced after July will lay eggs only in the period May-September of the following year, after a period of hibernation. Larvae burrow in the main roots of host plant during the summer as well as in the following spring.

[R]Damage
Adults feed on the leaves of the host plant occasionally causing heavy damage. Larvae form large, sinuous galleries in the main roots, full of sawdust. Death follows attack on young trees. Mature trees are seriously weakened by the larvae.

[R] Images

1. Capnodis tenebrionis (L.) (Coutin R. / OPIE)
   Adult on branch of apricot
2. Capnodis tenebrionis (L.) (Silva-Dias J.C. / EAN)
   Adult
3. Capnodis tenebrionis (L.) (Silva-Dias J.C. / EAN)
   Larva
4. Capnodis tenebrionis (L.) Larva on apricot roots (Pollini A.)