TAXONOMY AND BIOLOGY OF SOME MANGROVE WOOD BORING BEETLES (CURCULIONOIDEA)

Abstract

Eleven species of the superfamily Curculionoidea were collected from a few Singapore mangroves. Taxonomic description was given for the species of Scolytidae, illustrations and keys were given where appropriate. The nine species found were Xyleborus subcostatus, X.bidentatus ; X.costatomorphus, X.lornicatus, X.simili s, X .per lorans, X.cognatus, C.rhi zophorae and C.fallax. Two species of curculionids were also described and illustrated but were not identified. Certain biological aspects were also looked into . The tunnel system of the scolytids and the effect of inundation on the infestation of the beetles were studied. The results showed a corr~Jation between the amount of hours that the wood were submerged and the frequency and types of wood borers that infest the timber. There is also an indirect correlation between - the amount of nitrongen content present in the timber and the extent of infestation of scolytids.