Oncideres cingulata
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Description
Twig girdlers are grayish-brown beetles, 1/2 to 5/8 (12 -16 mm) long, with reddish-brown heads bearing long antennae (Figure 23). Larvae are whitish, legless grubs that are found inside the twigs.
Damage
The adult girdles the pecan twigs in late summer and fall. This girdling (deep V cut) causes the injured branch to break off or hang loosely on the tree.
Seasonal History
Twig girdlers are generally present wherever pecans are grown. It is especially abundant in groves near timberland containing hickory and persimmon. The insects overwinter as eggs or grubs inside the severed limbs. The grubs grow slowly during the fall and winter months but in spring, as they begin to tunnel inside the twigs, they grow rapidly. They normally complete their growth, pupate, and emerge as beetles during the latter part of August. The adults lay eggs in the tips of twig and then girdle the twigs. Twig girdlers complete their life cycle in one year, although some individuals require a second season.
When to Control
Control measures may be necessary in groves that have a history of infestation. Severed branches lodged in the trees and those on the ground should be gathered and burned during the winter.
