Ecology, biology, and management of Xylosandrus compactus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) with emphasis on coffee in Hawaii

Abstract

The black twig borer, Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) attacks > 200 species of plants. This ambrosia beetle occurs on all the major islands of Hawaii and is a threat to some native plants and coffee plantations. Female beetles bore entry holes and excavate tunnels inside branches, which are inoculated with fungus to provide a food source for larvae. Two types of damages are described-1) superficial boring limited to the phloem and 2) cutting of the vascular tissue which subsequently reach the pith of the stem to make galleries. In this article, we discuss the life cycle, biology, plant damage characteristics, and management alternatives of X. compactus, focusing on coffee plants.