Chrysobothris mali
Horn, 1886
Pacific flatheaded borer
Chrysobothris mali, the Pacific flatheaded borer, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the Buprestidae. It is found in North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and the United States. The has been documented infesting pear fruit in California orchards, representing a novel -plant association established through . It is also associated with walnut orchards in California.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Chrysobothris mali: /ˌkrɪsoʊˈbɒθrɪs ˈmɑːli/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Habitat
Lake County, California orchards; walnut orchards in California. The has been found in agricultural settings, specifically fruit orchards.
Distribution
North America: Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan); United States (California, with specific records from Lake County).
Host Associations
- Pyrus communis L. 'Bartlett' (Rosaceae) - larval Novel -plant association established through ; larvae found infesting fruit in Lake County, California orchards
- walnut - Associated with California walnut orchards based on study title
Life Cycle
Larval stage found infesting pear fruit. have been reared from larvae on artificial diet and from larvae left undisturbed in pear fruits, demonstrating the can complete its on pear fruit alone.
Human Relevance
Agricultural pest in California orchards. Larvae damage pear fruit, representing a previously undocumented fruit-feeding for this of insects. produce holes in fruit. The has been the subject of molecular diagnostics and taxonomic identification efforts due to its economic impact.
More Details
Taxonomic Verification
Molecular analysis and taxonomic identification confirmed the identity as Chrysobothris mali Horn, 1886. This verification was necessary due to the unusual nature of the association.
Research Significance
This represents the first documented case of flatheaded borers ( Buprestidae) attacking fruit, as this family had not been previously documented attacking any fruits. The finding generated considerable interest among UC Cooperative Extension , commodity advisors, advisors, and pest control advisers.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Cindy Kron: Adventures of the North Coast Area Extension Entomologist | Bug Squad
- Winter Botany Quiz #6 – answers and a checklist | Beetles In The Bush
- April | 2010 | Beetles In The Bush | Page 2
- trees | Beetles In The Bush | Page 4
- Introducing Chrysobothris caddo | Beetles In The Bush
- The perfectly polyphagous Chrysobothris purpureovittata | Beetles In The Bush
- DNA barcoding helps establish a novel host-plant association for Chrysobothris mali Horn, 1886 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) larvae found infesting Pyrus communis L. ‘Bartlett’ (Rosaceae) fruit in Lake County, California orchards
- Optimizing trap design, lure, and color for monitoring Chrysobothris mali (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in California walnut orchards.