BEETLE ENEMIES OF POMEGRANATE AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

Beetle insect pests infesting pomegranate include shot hole borer, Xyleborus perforans (Wollastan) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and cerambycid stem borer, Celosterna scrabrator Fabr. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). The shot hole borer adult females bore into the basal part of the stem and roots and cause drying in pomegranate. Due to this the death of plants varies from 8.30 to 46.30%. This pest can be managed by drenching with chlorypyriphos 20 EC (4 ml/L) with carbendazim 50 WP (2 g/L) or propiconazole 25 EC. The stem borer infestation varies from 5.00 to 37.00%. The grubs bore into the stem and make deep tunnels (up to 60 cm) resulting in yellowing and drying of branches and even entire plants. Adult insects also scrape the growing shoots leading to drying. This pest can be managed by injecting 8% dichlorvos 76 SC (80 ml/L) with a squeeze bottle till the tunnel is filled and closed with wet mud.