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