Symptoms:

The stem borer is increasingly becoming a menace in the older (>10 years) mango orchards across the country.

The grubs bore and feed below the bark on vascular tissues thereby interrupting nutrient and water transport.  As it grows, the tunneling is extensive below the bark, mostly invisible from outside.  Frass comes out from infested holes and sometimes sap oozes out.  The damage results in yellowing of branches followed by drying and die back of terminal shoots/ branches ultimately leading to the death of whole tree. 

Control

1. An early diagnosis and management can help in saving the tree from dying.

2. A formulation ‘Sealer cum healer’ developed by IIHR to tackle the menace. This formulation when applied following bark cleaning, swabbing (of dichlorvos @ 5 mL/L + COC @ 40 g/ L per kg of sealer cum healer) not only controls from borer damage but also protects the tree from the secondary infection and helps in rejuvenation of tree.