Species composition and abundance of wood borers in cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.)

The infestation of stem and root borer is one of the most important constraints in cashew cultivation. The study of wood borer diversity and its abundance in cashew is lacking. Such studies are paramount to devise effective pest management strategies against wood borers in cashew. The present study was carried out to investigate the diversity, abundance and species composition of wood borers in cashew plantations at Goa, India. Over two years, thirty dead or dying trees were felled for intensive sampling. Estimated the number of exit bore holes, number of larvae, pupae/cocoon and adults of wood borers and identified the species. Sixteen species of wood boring beetles comprising of ten Cerambycidae, two Curculionidae and one each of Buprestidae, Bostrichidae, Brenthidae and Platypodinae of coleopteran were identified from the borer infested cashew trees. Among the wood boring beetles of cashew plantations, the species Neoplocaederus ferrugineus and N. obesus were found to be major pests and consisted of 26.30 and 21.60% of the total population of wood borers. The relative population abundance of Batocera rufomaculata and Euplatypus parallelus was 14.16 and 10.30%, respectively. The species Belionota prasina and Coptops aedificator were recorded 9.34 and 4.33% of the total population of wood borers. The wood borers damaging cashew plantations were dominated by the family Cerambycidae accounting for 74.58% of total relative abundance. Platypodinae accounted for 10.3% of total relative abundance followed by Buprestidae 9.34% and Curculionidae 3.57%. The present findings enhance the understanding of associated wood borers in cashew plantations which will help in formulating suitable management strategies for sustainable management of wood borers.