Lanzones bark borer
Larvae feed under the bark of the trunk and main branches, leaving frass and dead, peeling bark patches, and weak trees bear less.
Crops it attacks
Where the damage shows
When to act
Each month look at the trunk and main branches of every tree for fine frass, wet dark spots and dead, peeling bark. Act on each patch as you find it, before it rings the trunk.
What to spray
Active ingredients only, never brands. The IRAC group tells how it works: switch to a different group next time, so the pest does not learn to survive it. Spray only when the damage is worth the cost, and only with products registered with the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority for your crop. Follow the label. The Shopee and Lazada links only show who sells something with that active ingredient, not a recommendation of any seller or product.
How to prevent it
- Scrape off dead, peeling bark with frass down to clean wood, kill the larvae you find, and burn the scrapings.
- Cut off and burn dead branches, and do not pile prunings near the trees.
- Keep trees vigorous: feed, water in the dry season, and prune shade so the trunk dries.
- Avoid wounding the bark with ladders, ropes and bolos at harvest. Borers enter through wounds.
- Check every tree after harvest, when weakened trees are most often attacked.
Natural enemies and biological help
- Ants, birds and Beauveria or Metarhizium fungi kill larvae under the bark in wet weather. Avoid broad trunk sprays.
Not sure it is this one?
Many pests look alike. Send a photo to Anee, the smart farm technician in anee.io. She reads it with your crop, its age and the weather, and tells you what it most likely is and what to do first. In Tagalog or English.