Hypoborus ficus (Erichson, 1836)

Beaver, Roger A., Ghahari, Hassan & Sanguansub, Sunisa, 2016, An annotated checklist of Platypodinae and Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Iran, Zootaxa 4098 (3), pp. 401-441 : 411

Hypoborus ficus (Erichson, 1836)

Distribution in Iran. Fars, Khorasan, Tehran ( Modarres Awal 1997), Guilan ( Modarres Awal 1997; Amini et al. 2013), Iran (no locality cited) ( Mifsud & Knížek 2009; Knížek 2011).

General distribution. Southern Europe, Azores, North Africa, East to Tajikistan.

Biology. Recorded in Iran from Ficus carica and Ficus sp. ( Moraceae ) ( Modarres Awal 1997; Amini et al. 2013). Kadyrov (1989) gives a brief account of the biology of the species in Tajikistan, and indicates that it is a serious pest of figs in that country. The species attacks weakened trees, and can cause death of branches and trees if present in high numbers ( Akşit et al. 2007). Infestations occur throughout the entire year. Akşit et al. (2007) note that the parasitic mite, Pyemotes johnmoseri (Khaustov) , was abundant in the gallery systems in Turkey attacking primarily the larvae. Mendel (1986) notes abundant attacks by an apparently host-specific braconid parasite, Ecphylus caudatus Ruschka. However , the potential of these species to act as biological control agents is uncertain.