Embiids
Embiids (Oligotomidae) are a family of insects belonging to the order Embioptera, which are rarely recognized as major agricultural pests but can cause localized damage. These are small insects adapted to life in shaded and humid environments, where they construct silken galleries or tubes that protect them from predators and adverse environmental conditions.
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Embiids
These insects prefer to feed on decaying plant debris, lichens, mosses, and tree bark. In agricultural ecosystems, they may occasionally damage young shoots, the bark of fruit crops, and ornamental plants by boring small galleries. They are most active in southern regions with warm climates, where high humidity promotes the growth of fungi, which also serves as part of their diet.
The life cycle of embiids is characterized by incomplete metamorphosis. Females exhibit significant parental care, guarding their eggs and larvae within their silken nests. Larval development progresses through several instars, during which the larvae become similar to adults, though they are smaller and most species lack developed wings in the early stages.
A characteristic sign of an embiid presence is the appearance of silk-lined galleries and thin tubes on tree bark, rocks, or at the base of plants. The damage caused manifests as a reduction in plant vigor, disruption of sap flow due to bark damage, and the creation of entry points for secondary fungal infections within the tunnels they have excavated.
Control measures are primarily preventive in nature. These include cleaning tree trunks of dead bark, removing plant debris where insects might hide, and maintaining optimal irrigation regimes. In cases of high population density, spraying with contact or systemic insecticides approved for specific crops can be effective in reducing their numbers.