Chemical Component of Sengon Tree Digested Xystrocera festiva (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Larvae

Abstract

Xystrocera festiva Thoms. (famili Cerambycidae, ordo Coleoptera) classified as the most harmful pest in Sengon (Falcataria moluccana) plantations in Indonesia. The larvae of the pest eat the inner bark and sapwood of the sengon tree since the tree are 3 years old. However, the chemical component(s) of the inner bark and sapwood digested were still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify chemical components of the tree eaten by the larvae of sengon X. festiva. The materials used for the analysis were the excrement on the bark surface and inside the bark, uneaten sapwood (outher bark), uneaten bark and healthy bark. The result saw that the larvae eat cellulose, hemicellulose, protein and starch contained in the inner bark and sapwood. However in the feces from larval still found hemicellulose, cellulose and protein. This means that all materials could not be digested by the larvae of X. festiva. From the chemical analysis of wood indicated that important larval food of X. festiva was hemicellulose and cellulose.

Chemical characteristics of Falcataria moluccana wood infested by Boktor stem borer (Xystrocera festiva)

“…Compared to Haneda et al (2020), the average value of the α-cellulose content from this study was lower, while Holocellulose and hemicellulose contents were almost similar. According to them, α-cellulose content for hardwood species was 40-45%, while hemicellulose and lignin were 15-35% and 17-25%, respectively.…”

“…According to Haneda et al (2020), Boktor larvae eat carbohydrates generated from hemicellulose, cellulose, and starch. In Table 1, we can see a decrease in hemicellulose content in the infested wood (3-and 4-years-old trees) compared to that in non-infested wood (2-years-old tree) inversely proportional to the high lignin contents.…”

“…The infestation begins with the laying of about 400 eggs in groups (Duladi 2012) under the bark through the wounded or damaged part of the stem, young larvae instantly damage the interior of the bark and outside of the sapwood once the eggs hatch (Haneda et al 2020) and visible when the tree reaches three years of age. The larvae feed on the inner bark, cambium, and sapwood.…”