Stem borer Orientozeuzera rhabdota (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) damaging Manglietia conifera and Michelia mediocris trees in Vietnam

The stem borer Orientozeuzera rhabdota Jordan, 1932 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) is a new threat to Manglietia conifera and Michelia mediocris plantations in Vietnam. Field surveys in Tuyen Quang and Bac Kan provinces in 2023 showed that O. rhabdota frequently damaged two-year-old Manglietia conifera with damage incidence (P%) ranging from 50.3 to 52.7% and damage index (DI) from 1.60 to 1.71. Damage from O. rhabdota was most prevalent in M. conifera plantations (P% = 50.1–52.6%) and on roadside trees (P% = 58.6–60.2%). Mixed plantations of M. conifera + Acacia mangium and M. conifera + Chukrasia tabularis had low damage (P% = 5.8–7.2%). Damage from O. rhabdota in M. mediocris plantations was lower than in M. conifera plantations with P% = 1.1–6.6% and DI = 0.02–0.12. Further studies are recommended to identify biological characteristics and develop an integrated pest management plan for this pest.