Durian fruit borer

English names:	Durian fruit borer, Yellow peach moth
Scientific name:	Conogethes punctiferalis
Synonyms:	Astura guttatalis, Dichocrocis punctiferalis
Pest group:	Insects
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Pyralidae

Description and life cycle

The female moth lays egg on the durian fruits. The egg hatch after about 4 days. The caterpillars that hatch from the eggs are white with a brown head. The young caterpillars will feed on the skin of young and mature durian fruit. When they get older, the caterpillars bore into the fruit where they feed. Their color changes to light brown and they develop dark brown or black spots scattered along the body. The caterpillar reach a length of 1.5 to 1.8 cm long. After 12 or 13 days they pupate between the spines of the fruits. The pupa is usually covered with leaves and with faeces of the caterpillar. The pupal stage lasts about 7 to 9 days.

Adult moths have a wingspan of 2.0 to 2.3 cm. The forewings are yellow with scattered black spots.

Durian fruit borer caterpillars.

Host plants

Durian fruit borer feeds not only on durian but also on several other hosts including: citrus trees, papaya, eggplant and castor.

Plant damage and plant compensation

Infection of fruits can often be recognized by the faeces of caterpillars that can be seen on the outside of the fruits.

The boring of caterpillars inside the fruit can cause secondary infections of fungi. This can result in fruit rot and it can cause fruits to drop off.

Damaged fruits and fruits that have developed rot will have a low value in the market.

It has been observed fruit borer prefer to attack more when two fruits hang close together. The place where the two fruits touch provides a kind of shelter for them, so females tend to select these places to deposit their eggs.

Durian fruit damaged by Durian fruit borer.

Natural enemies

this paragraph still to be written

Egg, larval and pupal parasitoids.

Pentatomid bugs

Reduviid bugs (Assassin bugs)

Spiders

Predatory ants

Larval parasitoids: Apanteles sp.

Verify if any results with NPV? other pathogens? Bt?

Management and control practices

Prevention activities

	Conserving natural enemies of durian fruit borer is important as they are actively controlling this pest. So don't use pesticides that kill these beneficial insects.
	When pruning young fruits, avoid leaving fruits in pairs together.
	Healthy fruits that hang in pairs can be separated by placing sticks or pieces of cardboard in between.
	Bagging of young fruits is a way to prevent egg laying, but it may cause slight changes in the color of the fruits.

Covering young Durian fruits with bags is a way to prevent attack by Fruit borer and Seed borer.

What can be done when Durian fruit borer is present in the field

	Catch adult moths by using light traps (black-blue light).
	Cut infested fruits and destroy them by burning.
	Young caterpillars feeding on the outside can be removed by using a stick or a piece of wire.
	Use neem extracts to control the pest. This can be done after detecting the presence of adult moths in light trap catches.
	Remove and destroy the fruits that developed rot or that dropped off. They can be destroyed by burning or burying them.
	Insecticide could be used as a last resort when infestation is very severe (more than 10% fruits infested). But try to avoid this as it will also kill the natural enemies of this and other pests. Try neem first.
	The crop protection guide prepared by the Entomology Division of DOA (in 2000) mentions a few insecticides that could be used as a last resort to control durian fruit borer: lambda-cyhalothrin (class II), chlorpyrifos (class II), carbosulfan (class II), cypermethrin/phosalone (both in class II). They are all classified in WHO class II (Moderately hazardous) but of these chemicals cypermethrin/phosalone has the lowest toxicity for mammals. All of them are very toxic for most natural enemies such as egg parasitoids and other beneficial insects such as bees.

Points to remember about Durian fruit borer

Links

	Conogethes punctiferalis (English: Australian site)
	Conogethes punctiferalis (Thai: DOAE)

This page under construction.