The longhorn beetle Jebusaea hammerschmidtii Reiche (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae): an old serious pest undermining date palm plantations

Abstract

The longhorn date palm stem borer, Jebusaea hammerschmidtii Reiche has become an important pest that causes economic damage in date palm groves. The beetle has established itself in many date palm-producing countries as one of the most important biotic factors that threatens date palm cultivation and genetic diversity. The larvae of the longhorn stem borer, the destructive stage, are endophytic developing inside the date palm tissues. This article consolidates the scant literature on the beetle biology, ecology, economic impact, possible field management measures, and future research priorities.

A Preliminary Study on Flight Characteristics of the Longhorn Date Palm Stem Borer Jebusaea hammerschmidtii (Reiche 1878) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Using a Computerized Flight Mill

“…The adult beetles of J. hammerschmidtii are very sensitive to high ambient temperature. They cannot withstand temperatures above 45 • C and, accordingly, they are usually found dead in the light traps if the collection is delayed until after sunrise [8]. The mating history and age of the field-collected beetles used in the trials were unknown.…”

“…However, only a few species cause economic damage that necessitates adopting management measures [2]. The longhorn date palm borer (LHB) Jebusaea hammerschmidtii (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) (Reiche 1878) is a major pest of date palm grown in the Middle East and North Africa that causes serious damage [3][4][5][6][7][8]. This beetle belongs to the family Cerambycidae in the order Coleoptera, which has a relatively large body of ~30-45 mm long and is characterized by having a very long antennae that may exceed the length of the body in the males [7].…”