The white coffee borer, Anthores leuconotus Pasc., and its control.

Anthores leuconotus Pasc., indigenous in East, South-East, South and South-West Africa, is an important ring-barking and wood-boring pest of the main stem and root of arabica coffee. The duration of the life-cycle ranges from 12 to 25 months, with most individuals requiring 16–20 months. Thus beetles developed from eggs laid during the long rains (April–June) of one year will mostly emerge during the short rains (Nov.–Jan.) of the following year, with some appearing during the rains preceding and others during the ensuing rains.If the mean life-cycle is taken to be 18 months, the approximate duration of each stage is as follows:— eggs require 21–23 days for eclosion; larvae in the first five instars ring-bark the tree for 4 months, and those in the final two instars bore into the wood for 12 months; the pupal period lasts about 4½ weeks, and the beetle remains in the tree for a further two weeks before emerging.