Re-Description of the Last Instar Larvae of Capnodis Tenebrionis (Linnaeus, 1760) (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) Depending on Scanning Electron Microscope

Abstract

The flat-headed borer, Capnodis tenebrionis (Linnaeus, 1760) , dispersed extensively in various geographical regions; it is extremely harmful and a dire threat to most stone fruit cultivars, and once the larva enters under the host tree crown, the infested host tree will gradually dry and eventually die. In this study, specimens were collected from several sites in Erbil province, Kurdistan Region-Iraq; then the fully grown larvae were selected for morphological study. In addition, clarification of morphological consequential and implication for most diagnostic characters were studied in all dissected parts. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to further analyze the hidden features of the selected characteristics; those were not shown in the primary mounting. The results impressively presented new conclusive evidence for the descriptive illustration of C. tenebrionis, and it confirmed a precise identification of this species in the larval stage.