Mango trees are favored for their delicious fruit, but they can also be susceptible to pests. Pests, such as the Mango Stem Borer, can cause significant damage to mango trees, ultimately affecting fruit production. Knowing how to identify and manage these pests is crucial for maintaining a healthy mango tree.

The Mango Stem Borer is a major pest that attacks not only the main stems but also the branches. These borer infestations can lead to branch dieback, weakening the tree and making it more susceptible to other diseases or damage from natural elements. Proper management, including removing affected limbs and maintaining overall tree health, can help reduce the impact of Mango Stem Borers on your trees.

Mango Stem Borer Identification

Life Cycle

• Eggs: The female longicorn beetle, Batocera rufomaculata, lays eggs in bark or stem crevices of mango trees.
• Larvae: After hatching, the larvae bore into the tree trunk to feed and grow.
• Pupae: When fully grown, larvae pupate within their feeding tunnels inside the tree.
• Adults: Emerging as adult beetles, they mate and continue the cycle.

Stem Borer vs Other Mango Pests

Stem Borer

• Beetle
• Bore into tree trunks and feed on wood
• Large, up to 5 cm

Mango Bud Mite

• Mite
• Feed on upper surface of mango leaves
• Tiny, not easily visible

Physical Features

Longicorn Beetle (Batocera rufomaculata)

• Long antennae
• Belongs to longhorn beetles family
• Dark brown or black with yellow markings

Symptoms of Damage

Stem and Branches

• Loose bark: Affected trees may exhibit loose bark around the damaged areas where the mango stem borer has tunneled.
• Mud: Mud or frass may be visible near the borer-infested areas on the tree’s stem and branches.

Stem damage can disrupt vascular tissue connections, which are essential for nutrient and water transport within the plant. This may lead to drying of branches and terminal shoots.

Fruits and Shoots

• Wilting: Terminal shoots of affected trees may exhibit wilting due to disrupted water transport from stem borer damage.
• Grub: The presence of grub or larvae inside the stems indicates that the tree is infested with mango stem borers.

When the borer damages the tree’s vascular tissues, it affects nutrient and water transport, consequently impacting the growth and health of fruits and shoots. For example, if a mango tree is severely infested with stem borers, its fruit production may significantly decrease, and the overall health of the tree may decline as well.

Treatment and Management

Chemical Control

Chemical control of mango stem borer involves using insecticides. The most commonly used insecticide is monocrotophos. It’s applied to the trunk and branches as a spray, reaching the larvae inside. Another option is aluminum phosphide, used in tablet form.

Pros:

• Effective in killing larvae
• Can prevent severe infestations

Cons:

• Harmful to beneficial insects
• May have adverse environmental effects

Organic Control

Organic control methods include:

• Bordeaux paste application: A mixture of copper sulfate, lime, and water is applied to the tree trunk and branches.
• Kerosene oil treatment: Injecting kerosene oil into borers’ entry holes can kill the larvae.
• Physical removal: Prune infested branches and burn them to destroy the larvae and pupae.

These organic methods are safer for the environment and less harmful to beneficial insects.

Integrated Approach

For sustainable mango stem borer management, an integrated approach combines chemical and organic techniques:

• Regular monitoring of tree health
• Properly timed insecticide application
• Pruning and burning infested branches
• Employing organic treatments when possible

This approach reduces chemical dependency while effectively controlling the stem borer population.

Preventive Measures

Mango stem borers are caterpillars that damage the shoots and mangoes in their larval stage. To protect your precious fruit, consider these preventive measures.

• Regular monitoring: Inspect your mango trees frequently to identify any signs of borers, such as holes in the shoots or frass. Early detection helps limit damage.

• Chemical control: If borers have already infested your tree, apply carbofuran, a chemical pesticide, to combat the infestation. Be cautious, as carbofuran is overly toxic to other organisms.

• Copper oxychloride paste: Applying this paste on the tree trunks and branches can deter borers. Ensure to cover vulnerable areas, such as cracks and pruning wounds.

• Cultural practices: Keep your orchard clean and maintain proper hygiene. Remove dead or infested branches, as they can serve as breeding grounds for borers.

• Natural enemies: Encourage the presence of predators, such as birds and parasitic wasps, to keep borer populations in check.

Remember, the key to success is a combination of these preventive measures, tailored to your situation. Happy mango growing!

Impact on Mango Trees

Mango trees are often affected by various pests, but the stem borer is particularly troublesome. The mango stem borer (Batocera rufomaculata) can cause severe damage to mango trees, resulting in reduced productivity and even death¹. This pest poses a threat as mango trees are a major source of vitamin A and are widely cultivated for their fruits.

Damage happens when the stem borer’s larvae bore into the tree trunks. These larvae feed on the sapwood, damaging the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients, ultimately leading to wilting and death².

Here are some characteristics of the mango stem borer:

• Larvae are creamy-white with a brown head
• Adult beetles are large and elongated, with a dark reddish-brown color
• Most commonly affects mango, but can also infest other fruit trees

The impact of the mango stem borer becomes evident as:

• Tree wilting
• Branches dying back
• Exit holes in the bark from emerging adult beetles
• Sawdust-like frass near tree trunk

In comparison to other common mango pests like the mango bud mite and stem-end rot, the stem borer causes more structural damage to the tree.

Pros of using chemical methods to control mango stem borer:

• Effective in managing the infestation
• In some cases, can prevent future infestations

Cons of using chemical methods to control mango stem borer:

• Risk of harming beneficial insects
• Possible environmental impact
• Potential residue on fruits

Alternative control methods like using pheromone traps, proper pruning, and biological control using natural enemies can help reduce the impact of stem borers on mango trees while minimizing the risks associated with chemical methods.

Current Scenario and Distribution

Nepal

In Nepal, the mango stem borer has emerged as a significant threat to mango cultivation, particularly in the Terai region. The monsoon season exacerbates the issue, as pests like the mango hopper, mango mealybug, mango shoot gall maker, and mango fruit fly flourish in wet conditions, creating an environment ripe for stem borer infestations.

The life cycle of the mango stem borer is closely intertwined with other pests, such as:

• Mango stone weevil
• Mango leaf webber
• Mango leaf-gall maker
• Red ant

Existing management strategies in Nepal typically focus on biological and chemical controls to curb damage caused by stem borers and other pests.

Other Regions

While the mango stem borer is currently a significant issue in Nepal, it also affects other mango-growing regions across the globe. Here, the pest profile is often similar, with a mix of:

• Mango hopper
• Mango mealybug
• Mango shoot gall maker
• Mango fruit fly
• Mango stone weevil
• Mango leaf webber
• Mango leaf-gall maker
• Red ant

Comparison of common mango pests:

Grub tunnels from the mango stem borer are particularly destructive. These tunnels may serve as entry points for other pests such as the mango mealy bug, resulting in compounding damage to the tree and fruit.

In conclusion, the mango stem borer is a widespread threat that requires targeted management strategies to protect mango trees and crops.

Reader Emails

Over the years, our website, whatsthatbug.com has received hundreds of letters and some interesting images asking us about these insects. Scroll down to have a look at some of them.

Letter 1 – Mango Stem Borer from Israel

bug identification
Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 1:01 AM
Beetle is about two or three inches long, yellow underneath, four red marks. Found on fig tree, probably was summer.
Judith
Israel

Hi Judith,
We remember identifying this beetle previously, but we needed to search our archives to locate the Mango Stem Borer we received from India. The scientific name is Batocera rufomaculata and a website we located indicates its preferred host trees are mango and fig. Catherine Githure who contributed to the site indicates: “In Israel, where B. rufomaculata was introduced in the late 1940s (Avidov and Harpaz, 1969), figs are most heavily attacked as are mango and avocado.” This beetle is also called the Mango Tree Borer or the Tropical Fig Borer.

Hi Daniel
Thank you very much for the information.  I am entering a drawing I did from the photo to the BBC Wildlife Artist competition, so I wanted to be able to write its name!
It does not sound like a beetle one would like to see in the garden, so it is a good thing that I have only seen one of them!
Best wishes
Judith

Internet Piracy
December 8, 2011
My Batocera-rufomaculata photograph from your site has been used on another site!!!
Hi Daniel
I decided for fun to see if I could find my drawing on the web, and under “images” found my photograph, which I had happily given you permission to use.  http://www.bitterrootrestoration.com/mango/stem-borer-batocera-rufomaculata.html
You will see that it is the same picture!
Have they “stolen” it, or did they ask permission?  Do you know anything about bitterrootrestoration?
Best wishes
Judith

Hi Judith,
We occasionally receive requests for the use of an image, and if it is for a nonprofit project or a small educational project, we frequently allow permission, however, prior to doing so we request that the person place a comment on the posting with the photograph they want to use in case the person who owns the copyright does not want to allow permission.  We are not able to maintain contact information for all the content we post, and that way if there is any question in the future, the person requesting permission can deal directly with the copyright owner.  Our release form indicates that we maintain the right to post images and letters to our site and to other What’s That Bug? authorized publications.  We did not receive a request by Bitter Root Restoration to use your image.  We never granted them permission.  Unfortunately, it is very easy to pirate content from the internet.  We would suggest that you contact them directly should you wish them to remove the image from their website.  They should at least provide you with a photo credit.  Had they contacted us, we probably would have allowed this use (in the interest of education), though we would have only granted it after they made an official request comment to our posting with your image so that you could respond to them as well.

Hi Daniel
Thank you for your reply.
I have just written to them telling them that they need to ask permission for the use of photographs as there are copyright laws and they should not steal from the net.  I have given permission for them to use the picture provided they credit the photo to me, and told them that most people would be complemented and give permission.   I hope they are more careful in the future regarding their taking of photos from the net, and that they will respond to my email!
If I take any more interesting insect photos, I shall sent them to you.
Thanks again
Best wishes

Letter 2 – Mango Stem Borer from US Virgin Islands

Subject:  Large Beetle Perched in Papaya Tree
Geographic location of the bug:  St Croix, US Virgin Islands
Date: 04/20/2018
Time: 11:07 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Good Day,
Hurricanes Irma and Maria randomly seeded our debris-laden yard with a few dozen Papaya volunteers last September (along with tomatoes, peppers, pumpkin and more!). Jan-March we’ve received little to no rains, and so with recent April sprinklings, these parched trees have finally begun setting flower buds. Today while searching for open buds, this intricate beauty greeted me. After admiring his morphology for a timeless hour (or more), I wondered if I could figure out his name. “Large beetle” in Google’s image search did not help, but it did point me to your site ?. Using inches, from “head to toe”, the main body measures 2.5″, with width of “shoulder blades” (widest part) being 3/4″ and width of rounded base being 1/2″. The antenna measures just shy of 3″. I opted not to disturb him, so, I don’t know what the underbelly looks like. What a delightful find. Thank you for providing this ID service and forum ?☀️?
How you want your letter signed:  Lee

Dear Lee,
This impressive beetle is not native to the Caribbean.  This is an introduced Mango Stem Borer, Batocera rufomaculata, a species native to Asia.  Its larvae bore in the stems of mango, fig and papaya among other trees.  According to Carnivora:  “A serious pest of edible fig, mango, guava, jackfruit, pomegranate, apple, rubber, and walnut. In India recorded for more than 30 different host plants.  The female cuts the tree bark and lays eggs singly into these cuts, laying a total of up to 200 eggs. Egg is a brownish-white cylinder, 6.2 mm, with narrowly rounded ends. On hatching the larvae start to tunnel into the sapwood of the trunk or branches. Larval development takes about 2 years. As a very large species, the larval tunnel measuring 2 or 3 centimeters in width that is correspondingly large and very damaging to the tree. The larvae tunnel through the sapwood and because of their size, they make large tunnel which interfere with sap flow and affect foliage and fruit production. Attack by Batocera rufomaculata often leads to the death of the tree. Tree death has been recorded in the Virgin Islands, Israel, Mauritius, India and Malaysia. Economic loss can follow when the tree attacked bears fruits or yields another product.”

Whoa…. so potentially (most likely) this is a female boring eggs into the stem right now. Hmmm… I shall relocate her momentarily, as I believe she chose a host with female flower buds that eventually will fruit. Was kinda hoping the bug was a pollinator vs parasite. Incidentally, this cluster of papaya are growing under what used to be a massive Mango canopy, felled by recent hurricanes. The past 4-5 years, it rarely produced mangos, and if so, on a only few branches (15% at best). Whereas 5-6 years ago, it was fruiting heavily. Mr Bugman, I sincerely appreciate your ID expertise. Simultaneously, you solved our long curiosity as to why mangos systematically stopped appearing on our once-massive tree  Thank you, Lee

Hi again Lee,
In our opinion, the pictured tree upon which you found this Mango Stem Borer is too young to be able to support a growing larva.  There is some evidence that adult beetles feed on leaves, based on this image we located on Dreamstime.

That’s a cool foraging pic. Thank you for the addition info and links. What an enjoyable, interactive, backyard entomology trip

Letter 3 – Mango Stem Borer from India

Unknown large green long-antennaed Indian insect
April 24, 2010
I stayed in Bangalore for four months last year and saw this bug on my door one day. If I remember right, it made a loud buzzing noise when it flew. It seemed to prefer sticking to walls, though. I only saw it once, around May in Bangalore, India.
Benjamin C. Krause
Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Dear Benjamin,
Your Longhorned Borer Beetle is a Mango Stem Borer, Batocera rufomaculata, a species we have identified several times in the past.  It is considered a pest species of mango, fig and avocado trees where the larvae burrow in the wood.

Letter 4 – Mango Flower Beetle

Plant-eating beetle found on citrus
March 13, 2010
Hello,
I found this bug and 20 of his friends on some new stems from a citrus tree I have in my backyard.
It appears to be eating the new shoots and flowers.
All have the same speckled carapace, and measure about 1.5cm long.
They looks almost like an African Black Beetle in form, but a bit bulkier.
Hope you can help me!
Christian
Sydney, Australia

Hi Christian,
Your beetle is a Scarab known as the Mango Flower Beetle or Mottled Flower Scarab, Protaetia fusca.  We quickly located it on the Brisbane Insect Website. We located a pdf with much information on this species.

Letter 5 – Mango Stem Borer

Subject: What’s this bug?
Location: Goa, India
January 28, 2013 11:48 am
I took this picture in Goa, India. It’s body is about 5 cm. Do you know the name of it.
Kind Regards,
Alfons (Netherlands)
Signature: Alfons

Hi Alforns,
Your Longhorned Borer Beetle is Batocera rufomaculata, the Mango Stem Borer.  It can be especially troublesome on plantations where its hosts plants are grown.  Even native insects can become serious agricultural pests because farms and plantations do not generally have much plant diversity.  An insect that feeds on a particular plant has a ready food source and the infestation can spread from one tree or plant to the next quite easily.

Letter 6 – Mango Stem Borer

Subject: Dung beetle or something else
Location: Mumbai India
November 18, 2013 8:27 am
I found this bug outside my door . It was almost still . I snapped a few pics of it.
Signature: Akhilesh Singh

Dear Akhilesh,
This is not a Dung Beetle.  It is a Mango Stem Borer, Batocera rufomaculata DeGeer, one of the Longicorns in the family Cerambycidae.  According to Discover Life:  “B. rufomaculata is a polyphagous species which attacks both living and dead trees. While it tends to attack living trees which are stressed, it will also sometimes attack apparently healthy trees. The host range differs throughout the species’ range, but mango and fig are the two most commonly attacked hosts. … Mango and figs are the main hosts throughout India and South-East Asia, the main range of the species; however, many other hosts are known including rubber and Dyera costulata . Duffy (1968) listed about 50 known hosts. The species has also been recorded as a pest of cashew timber ( Anacardium spp. ) in Kerala, India (Gnanaharan et al., 1985) and mulberry ( Morus spp. ) in India (Butani, 1978; Sharma and Tara, 1985).”

Letter 7 – Mango Stem Borer

Subject: Unknown Insect! 😀
Location: Binnaguri,West Bengal
April 15, 2014 3:42 am
It was attracted to the lights……though i dn’t knw if it’s a beetle or something else!
Signature: Martin

Hi Martin,
This appears to be a Mango Stem Borer, Batocera rufomaculata, a species that is considered a serious agricultural pest of mangos, figs and several other commercially grown trees.  According to Carnivora, the hosts include:  “edible fig, mango, guava, jackfruit, pomegranate, apple, rubber, and walnut. In India recorded for more than 30 different host plants.”  When crops are grown commercially, there is not much diversity in the field, and when food supplies are plentiful, species that feed on those plants also proliferate.  In a forest where trees are rarely homogenous and where natural predators are also present, the balance of nature keeps things under control.  Modern agricultural methods, with large swathes of land devoted to growing a single crop, create an ecosystem that is out of balance.  This individual may have been attracted to the lights in your home.

Letter 8 – Mango Stem Borer from India

Can u help identify this bug
Hi Bugman,
I am trying to find the name/class/nature of this big bug: Body Length is around 6 cm. Am attaching some pictures of it. Thanks a lot. Have a nice day ! PS; Image was taken yesterday at Patna, India.
Chandan Singh

Hi Chandan,
This is a Borer Beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It is the Mango Stem Borer, Batocera rufomaculat, also called the Mango Tree Borer or Tropical Fig Borer. We found a web page profiling this interesting beetle.

Letter 9 – Mango Stem Borer from India

Subject: Can you please identify this insect?
Location: kolkata, india
June 21, 2015 5:58 pm
This visitor was found on top of our mosquito net. We live in Kolkata, India. The body was about the size of my longest finger – quite big! It moved quickly and could fly.
Signature: tik-tiki

Dear tik-tiki,
This beetle is a Mango Stem Borer, Batocera rufomaculata, and it is our understanding that the larvae feed on the wood of fig and avocado trees as well as mango, which makes them a threat where those fruits are grown commercially.

Letter 10 – Mango Stem Borer from India

Subject:  Identify this bug please
Geographic location of the bug:  Kerala, India
Date: 01/12/2019
Time: 12:49 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Hi,
Can you please help identify this bug.
My daughter found this and wanted to know what it was. I’m guess it is some kind of locust.Can you please confirm?
Thanks in Advance
How you want your letter signed:  Rijil

Dear Rijil,
This is not a locust.  It is a Mango Stem Borer, a Beetle in the Longhorned Borer family Cerambycidae.  The species is native to India, and according to Plant Pests of the Middle East, host plants include:  “Fig, mango, apple and about 50 other plant species.”  It is our understanding that guava is another host.  The Mango Stem Borer is a significant pest in the agricultural industry.   

Letter 11 – Mango Stem Borer from Israel

WTB
Location: Israel
July 25, 2011 2:48 am
Hi,
Can you please tell what is this bug?
Signature: Ziv Peled

Hi Ziv,
This is not the first report we have received of a Mango Stem Borer, Batocera rufomaculata, that we have received from Israel.  Here is a posting from 2009.  The Mango Stem Borer is also known as the Fig Borer in Israel, and here is some information from the cabdirect website:  “The fig borer, Batocera rufomaculata, was introduced into Israel, probably from Sri-Lanka, in the early 1950s. Within ten years much of the fig (Ficus carica) plantations had been destroyed by the borer. However, between the early 1960s and the 1980s the borer vanished completely from the scene. It reappeared in the early 1990s. Most reports on its occurrence date from 1997-98. At present, the borer is causing serious damage to fig plantations in the low areas of the north and central areas of Israel.“

Letter 12 – Mango Stem Borer from Israel

Subject:  Bug from Israel
Geographic location of the bug:  Kfar Saba, IL
Date: 08/29/2021
Time: 03:04 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  What is it?
How you want your letter signed:  Thanks in advance

The Mango Stem Borer was likely to have been introduced to Israel from Sri Lanka in the 1950’s.  It uses figs, mangos and Papayas as host trees.

Letter 13 – Mango Stem Borer from Puerto Rico

Subject:  Is it some kind of Long horned beetle?
Geographic location of the bug:  Puerto Rico
Date: 05/31/2018
Time: 08:42 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  What bug is this?? I’m a NYS resident but my mother sent me these pics from bro home in Puerto Rico.
How you want your letter signed:  Santos Collazo

Dear Santos,
The Mango Stem Borer is an Asian species that has recently been introduced to Puerto Rico.

Letter 14 – Mango Stem Borer from Thailand

Identify bettle
Location: Thailand
November 2, 2010 1:04 am
Please assist to identify this bettle
Signature: sulasno

Hi sulasno,
Your beetle is Batocera rufomaculata, and it is commonly called a Mango Stem Borer.  It is one of the Longhorned Borer Beetles or Longicorns in the family Cerambycidae.

Letter 15 – Mango Stem Borer in US Virgin Islands

Subject: Beetle?
Location: Caribbean, US Virgin Islands, St. Croix
August 10, 2015 5:18 pm
Dear Bugman,
Attached is a picture of a bug taken ending of July 2015. I saw at least 4 of them coming around my apartment. Can you IF the bug so that I can learn more about them?
Thanks,
Signature: Andres

Dear Andres,
We were not aware that the Mango Stem Borer, Batocera rufomaculata, an Asian Longhorned Borer Beetle that has been accidentally introduced to the Israel where it is threatening mango, fig and avocado trees, had been introduced to the New World, however, Discover Life indicates:  “B. rufomaculata is a polyphagous species which attacks both living and dead trees. While it tends to attack living trees which are stressed, it will also sometimes attack apparently healthy trees. The host range differs throughout the species’ range, but mango and fig are the two most commonly attacked hosts.  Wild Ficus spp. were attacked and killed in the Caribbean.”  No date is provided for when the Mango Stem Borer was first introduced to the Caribbean.  Since this is a non-native introduction, we are tagging your submission as one of the Invasive Exotics.

Letter 16 – Mango Stem Borer from India

Subject: 2.5 – 3 ” beetle
Location: Navi Mumbai, India
December 23, 2013 3:52 am
I found this huge beetle outside my window the other day & am curious to know what it is. The size excluding the antennae was about 2.5 – 3″. It is winter here in Mumbai with day time temperatures ranging between 15-25 degrees celcius.
Signature: SJ

Dear SJ,
This is a Longhorned Borer Beetle in the genus Batocera, most likely the Mango Stem Borer, Batocera rufomaculata.

Daniel,
Thank you very much for your prompt reply. I had looked it up online earlier. But the sites did not mention that it is found in India!
Thank you very much for the information.
Regards
SJ

Hi Again SJ,
According to Discover Life:  “Mango and figs are the main hosts throughout India and South-East Asia, the main range of the species; however, many other hosts are known including rubber and Dyera costulata . Duffy (1968) listed about 50 known hosts. The species has also been recorded as a pest of cashew timber ( Anacardium spp. ) in Kerala, India (Gnanaharan et al., 1985) and mulberry ( Morus spp. ) in India (Butani, 1978; Sharma and Tara, 1985).”  There is much publicity because of the introduction of the Mango Stem Borer to Israel, but India is part of the natural range.

Letter 17 – Mango Stem Borer from Puerto Rico

Subject:  Caribbean Longhorn Beatle?
Geographic location of the bug:  San Juan, Puerto Rico
August 27, 2017 9:33 AM
Hello:
I’m just curious.
I found this bug walking on my porch at night.
At first, I thought someone threw a small rock at my window because of the noise it made when it hit (twice).
When I first saw it walking on the floor, I thought it was a huge roach, so I sadly hit it twice with my shoe but it didn’t die. (Sorry for that).
I just started making a loud noise. Some kind of low pitched ratling sound.
I also have a video with sound, if you are interested in listening.
Thanks in advance for your information.
Best Regards,
How you want your letter signed:  Joaquín Nina

Dear Joaquín,
Dorsal views are often the easiest views to use for identification.  That white stripe from the abdomen through the eye is quite distinctive, and we believe this is an invasive Mango Stem Borer, Batocera rufomaculata, an Asian species, and you can compare your individual to this image on WaiWiki.  According to the Worldwide Cerambycoidea Photo Gallery, the species was first recognized in Thailand and the distribution is:  “Pakistan, India, Ceylon, Andaman, China (Tibet, Hainan), Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia. Introduced in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, e Africa, Madagascar, Comores, Mauritius, Virgin Is., Puerto Rico.”  According to Farangs Gone Wild, common names include “Mango stem Borer, Fig Borer, Tropical Fig Borer” and “Attack often leads to the death of the host tree.”  The species is not listed on Cerambycoidea de Puerto Rico, perhaps because it is an invasive species, and perhaps because it is a recent arrival.

Hello Daniel:
Thanks a lot for your prompt response!
Your explanation is very interesting and seems to be very accurate.
Looking to the pictures in the Waiwiki website, it is very similar (almost the same). The only difference is the color.
Also the stripe isn’t white, is actually light yellow. Maybe a mutation?
Does this species make sounds?
I’ll try to send you the video in the attachment.
Joaquín Nina.

Joaquín,
We should have written light stripe instead of white stripe.  Many Longhorn Beetles in the family Cerambycidae make squeaking noises.

Letter 18 – Mango Stem Borer from Thailand

Subject: unknown bug
Location: Pattaya, thailand
February 12, 2016 10:17 pm
I found this bug trying to crawl throw my open back door in Pattaya, Thailand.
I think it is dying as its movement is very laboured (just flicking its legs and ‘wings’ if that is what they are) I have a huge jackfruit tree in my back garden so was wondering if that is what attracted it in the first place
Thanks
Signature: freaked of bugs

This is a Mango Stem Borer, Batocera rufomaculata, a species whose larvae bore in the stems of several fruit trees including Guava, Mango and Avocado.  According to Plantwise Knowledge Bank jackfruit is one of the host plants for the Mango Stem Borer.

Letter 19 – Mango Stem Borer from an Unknown Location

Subject: want details about the strange bug
Location: I found it in our outdoor kitchen
March 13, 2017 10:09 am
I found a bug in the shed of my house I want details of that strange bug. I will attach some photos of that bug
Signature: Abhijith.R

Dear Abhijith,
This is a Mango Stem Borer.  It would be much more helpful to us to know where your house is located as opposed to where in the house your found this Mango Stem Borer.  This Asian species has been introduced to many places in the world where it is an agricultural pest.

Letter 20 – Mangrove Tree Nymph from Singapore

Butterfly
Location: Singapore
February 20, 2012 11:59 pm
hello, i was wondering what this beautiful butterfly was – it’s gorgeous!
Signature: Cassia

Hi Cassia,
This really is a gorgeous butterfly, and we suspected it is one of the relatives of the Monarch in the subfamily Danainae.  Our suspicions proved correct, and our first potential identification hit came on the Butterfly Craze webpage where we found a photo of the Mangrove Tree Nymph.  The real shock was reading this on Butterfly Craze:  “MANGROVE TREE NYMPH:  This species was thought to have gone extinct from Singapore.  Already a very rare butterfly even in Malaysia, The Mangrove Tree Nymph is a seashore species known to only make its appearance deep in mangrove swamp vegetation.  Although there were several unconfirmed reports of its sighting at Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong in the late 80’s, no confirmed observation of its existence was obtained until recently, where this photograph of the species was taken with a digital camera. It was indeed a pleasant surprise to record the existence of Idea leuconoe chersonesia in Singapore.   Mangrove Tree Nymph is a black and white butterfly like the other species of the genus Idea, but the marginal and submarginal spots are conjoined to form an irregular black band, and the wing bases are yellow-tinted.  Like the other Idea species, the butterfly glides gracefully amongst the treetops and floats like a piece of paper.  The butterfly is believed to be distasteful to predators.”  The Butterfly Circle website has much of the same information.  FlickR lists the common name Rice Paper Butterfly and notes:  “Idea leuconoe chersonesia is a black and white butterfly like the other species of the genus Idea, but the marginal and submarginal spots are conjoined to form an irregular black band, and the wing bases are yellow-tinted. Like the other Idea species, the butterfly glides gracefully amongst the treetops and floats like a piece of paper. The butterfly is believed to be distasteful to predators.”

thank you so much for replying – and so quickly too!
that’s amazing, I really must be lucky to have seen one! it certainly was the largest butterflies, i’ve ever seen and the way it flew was hypnotising!
thank you so much,
Cassia

Letter 21 – Unknown Borer Beetle from India is Mango Tree Borer

Take me to your Leader! — Big beetle from Kerala, India
This thing was HUGE! Antennae at least 4″ across, and the body about 3″ long, or more. Maybe bigger. The column width of the magazine in the background is 4″. Searched all 14 pages of your “Beetle Files” (talk about an inordinate fondness!), didn’t see anything resembling it. Rural India, 40 km SW (appx) of Cochin, surrounded by mango and papaya trees. Too tired to write a snappy note, just wanted to pass the pictures on and maybe get an ID. Can send hi-res, but I think this should be sufficient for one email. (!) I’ve cropped these. Let me know if you need more detail, or better pictures. Field guide looks cool. I’ve added it to my wish-list! Thanks and Best Regards,
Jim
TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER!

Hi Jim,
After a bit of internet research, we are no closer to an answer than before we began. We know this is a Borer Beetle in the family Cerambycidae, probably in the subfamily Prioninae. Perhaps one of our readers can provide a species name for this interesting beetle with distinctive markings and white scutellum, the little triangle at the front of the elytra or wing covers.

Update: 905/06/2008)
Daniel:
Actually, turns out I was right about the Indian longhorn. It is most likely a specimen of Batocera rufomaculata.
Eric

Thanks Eric,
We have found that the common name is the Mango Tree Borer.