Bamboo Borer

Dinoderus minutus

Appearance

Image of Bamboo Weevil (Dinoderus minutus) | Rentokil Pest Control Australia
  • Dark brown body, plump, almost cylindrical, 1/16 to 1/8" in length.
  • Antennae broaden at the tip, with the last 3 segments considerably larger and ending in well-defined antenna clubs.
  • The humped thorax conceals the head and has teeth-like indentations in its rounded front. Two large dimples at the back of the thorax.
  • Elytra (wing cases) are covered with small pits and bristly hairs.

Lifecycle

  • The female lays 27–35 eggs into the food substrate, larvae hatch and bore into the plant.
  • Larva undergoes up to 4 development phases and pupates inside the plant.
  • The lifecycle can be as short as 60 days in good conditions (35 °C, 75% relative humidity) leading to multiple generations per year.

Habits

  • Larva feeds on bamboo cane, but the weevil is also known to breed on cassava root.
  • Larva makes tubular passages along plant fibres and emerges leaving a perfectly round hole.
  • This species from East Asia is brought in with cargo on ships (e.g. tapioca products), wooden packaging and even wooden musical instruments.

Free Pest Control Survey or Quotation

1300 805 087

Pest Control for your home

Treating woodworm in your home