Pest of the Month July 2012 – Plumeria Stem Borer (Lagocheirus undatus)

i)       Hosts: Plumeria spp.

ii)      Symptoms: Small hole(s) in the side of the stem with black ooze dripping out, shriveled stems

iii)    Control: Prune the affected branch from the plant and destroy completely.  Insecticides are ineffective.

References:

1. Plumeria, University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Cooperative Extension Service, Ornamental Flowers OF-24, February 1998.
2. Pests and Diseases: Symptoms and Solutions for Plumeria, The Plumeria Society of America, Inc., Plumeria Care Bulletin, Vol. 1 No. 2, September 1991.
   

   Plumeria borer. Photo by Forest & Kim Starr.