Photo © M.Rejzek

Body length:	10 - 20 mm
Life cycle:	1 - 2 years
Adults in:	June - July
Host plant:	Prunus spp. (Prunus persica, Prunus armeniaca)
Distribution:	Iran, Turkey, Syria, Iraq

Osphranteria coerulescens inaurata Holzschuh, 1981 is a subspecies widely distributed in Asia Minor, the Near East and Iran. Larvae of this subspecies feed in living twigs and branches of various Prunus spp. In Iran this subspecies has been reported several times to be a serious pest of peach and apricot orchards. Young trees are especially prone to attack and damage. In the case of very young trees the larvae manage to feed in the trunks completely damaging the plants.

The adults emit a characteristic scent probably serving as a chemical defence used by the beetles to protect themselves against would be predators such as insectivorous birds.

The depicted adult was reared from a larva sent to us by an Iranian colleague who we would like to thank. Unfortunately, we have lost contact with this person and consequently we do not know the exact collecting circumstances. If you read this, please, contact us.

Photo © M.Rejzek