Description of the Pest
The branch and twig borer adult is a 0.3 to 0.6 inch (7–15 mm) long beetle, mostly black with brown wing covers. The C-shaped, white larvae are covered with fine hair. There is one generation per year.
Damage
Adults bore small, round holes at the base of buds or leaf axils of twigs injured by sunburn. Eggs are laid at these locations in early May and grubs bore into the heartwood, where they live for a year or more. Twigs break at location of the injury. Madrone, oak, and grape are the preferred hosts; olive damage may occur when trees are located near these sources. Loss of a few small branches in an orchard is of little consequence to production.
Management
Prune out and burn infested wood. Prevent sunburn and other injury that predisposes trees to damage.