Biology of the Rosaceae Branch Borer, Osphranteria coerulescens (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Abstract

Osphranteria coerulescens Redtenbacher causes extensive damage to living rosaceous trees in Iran. The adults are redescribed and the larva and pupa are described. Details of mating behavior, oviposition, fecundity, behavior of immatures, and nature and extent of damage caused are given. Adults are active from late May to mid-June. In the field, females prefer spring twigs for oviposition. The larva requires 11 months to develop and the pupa completes development in 22–24 days. Damage by the beetles is readily apparent when the tips of infested twigs break off and larger branches break off as larval boring proceeds. A heavy infestation of O. coerulescens results in significant crop reduction.