Colobothea distincta (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on Cacao: Notes on Its Morphology and Biology1

Abstract

Females of Colobothea distincta Pascoe lay from 14 to 24 eggs over a 2-day oviposition period, depositing them in groups in the phloem in branches of dying cacao trees. Eggs hatch in 8–12 days. Larvae in early instars feed only in the inner bark, but those in the last instar may feed also upon wood fibers to some extent. The larval stadia require about 6 weeks; 5–9 days are spent in preparation of the pupal chamber in transformation to the pupa; adults emerge in 10–16 days after pupation, and disperse to trees other than the one in which they developed. Adult males lived 19–56 days; females, 44–63 days; both sexes were observed feeding only on the bark of dying cacao trees. Measurements of adults showed no significant differences between collections made at 3 localities in Costa Rica. The ratio of antennal length to body length was strikingly greater in males than in females, as also was the length of the front legs. Because the trees attacked are already dying, this species has little economic importance.