Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2009
Xylebrous morstatti Hag. is a shot-hole borer which is well known as a pest of coffee. It has also been recorded from avocado pear (Persea americana) in Fiji, and is here reported attacking the same tree in the Seychelles, where it appears to be too scarce so far to do any serious damage.
The infestations and nature of the damage on avocado pear are described and illustrated, and the recorded geographical distribution of the insect is summarised.
A method of insecticidal control is described which, on the small scale on which it was carried out, appears to have been successful.