ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON LONGHORN BEETLES OF SINDHUDURG DISTRICT (MS), INDIA

Abstract: Cerambycids are one of the most destructive wood boring insect pests on the planet Earth. They affect wide range of garden plants, agricultural or food crops, forest trees and timber goods that cause yearly expenditures of millions of dollars. Despite their economic importance and ecological diversity, cerambycid beetles have yet to be studied in terms of ecology, behavior, and evolution. Considering this destructive nature of this group of beetles, this study aims to highlight ecological behaviour with respect to their host plants and emergence as well as degree of damage caused by these beetles by surveying wood material in the saw mills and furniture shops. Study recorded highly polyphagous species like Stromatium barbatum and few new host plants. The survey carried out led to document the valuable trees coming at saw mills and even practical ideas followed by workers to counterattack the pest problem to the stock of wood material. These beetles were studied during 2016 to 2021 in Northern Western Ghats of Sindhudurg district (MS), India