Identification symptoms

  • Grub enter twig and damage by tunnelling – Ambrosia fungus developed
  • Female lays eggs on the tunnels
  • After egg hatching, the white milky larvae feed on the ambrosia fungus
  • Infests green succulent branches.
  • In young plants - main stem may be attacked, presence of shot holes
  • Initial symptoms - drooping of leaves
  • Withered (faster in young branches and delayed in older twigs) or dried branches
  • Attacked leaves fall prematurely
  • Terminal leaves wilt, droop and dry up.
  • Severe infestation - loss of considerable number of productive branches.