Invasive Mango Stem Borer Beetle Emerging As Deadly Threat To Oman’s Ancient Baobabs

New research shows the mango stem borer beetle is devastating baobab trees in Oman. Learn how larvae cause these ancient trees to collapse and die.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 9:56 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Mongabay.

The majestic baobab tree, often celebrated for its extreme resilience to climate change, is facing a localized existential threat from an unexpected predator. A research team led by Sarah Venter recently investigated a population of approximately 100 baobabs in Oman’s Wadi Hinna valley following reports of tree collapses. Their findings, published in a new study, confirm that the mango stem borer has moved beyond its traditional hosts to infest and kill these ancient giants.

The infestation process is particularly destructive because female beetles cut into the baobab's bark to lay eggs, which hatch into larvae that spend nearly a year gnawing zigzag feeding tunnels through the moist internal tissues of the trunk. These tunnels eventually cause the tree to fall over under its own weight and die. Of the 90 trees examined in the valley, six have already died and 12 others are currently fighting for their lives against the infestation.

Omani environmental authorities have launched an aggressive intensive care program to save the remaining trees by using methods borrowed from mango farming. Strategies currently in use include manual extraction where workers use wire hooks to scoop larvae out of the trunks, chemical intervention through the application of specific pesticides, and the use of nocturnal light traps to capture adult beetles. While these labor-intensive measures are showing success in Oman’s small, isolated population, experts warn they are not a viable solution for the vast baobab landscapes of mainland Africa.

Biosecurity remains the primary concern because the beetle is already present in Madagascar and other Indian Ocean islands. Researchers are urging travelers to strictly follow quarantine protocols at all ports of entry into Africa, noting that even a single fruit or cutting brought from a holiday can harbor larvae capable of devastating an entire ecosystem. The mystery remains as to why the beetle is currently killing trees in Oman but has not yet shown similar patterns in Madagascar or Mauritius, leading some ethnobotanists to suggest that the Oman baobabs may be more susceptible due to being outside their natural range.