Mango Bark Borer

📖 Description

Mango Bark Borer is an important wood-boring pest of mango across the Indian subcontinent, particularly damaging in old, poorly managed orchards of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The adult beetle lays eggs in bark crevices and wounds; the larva tunnels under the bark and into the wood, causing gum exudation and die-back of branches. Unlike the more destructive mango stem borer (Batocera rufomaculata) which attacks the main trunk, R. simulans typically attacks branches and twigs, causing less catastrophic but chronic damage. The pest is most severe in orchards with poor sanitation, mechanical injuries and excessive shade. IPM with pruning and burning of infested branches, swabbing bore holes with insecticide, and trunk painting with Bordeaux paste provides effective control. Avoidance of mechanical injury during intercultural operations is critical — wounds expose the cambium layer and attract ovipositing females. Maintaining orchard vigour through proper nutrition and irrigation also reduces susceptibility to attack.