Unveiling an important interaction in forestry: Ectomyelois muriscis and Khaya grandifoliola cankers and tree growth

African mahogany, Khaya grandifoliola C. DC., is the most planted mahogany species in Brazil, and became the choice species when plantations of Brazilian mahogany, Swietenia macrophyla King became unsustainable due to their susceptibility to the shoot borer Hypsipyla grandella Zeller. This study evaluated plantation growth and the occurrence of cankers associated with Ectomyelois muriscis Dyar larvae. Surveys recorded plantation volume, survival, and canker incidence of a plantation established in 2010 at 6 m × 5.5 m spacing. Larvae were collected and reared on canker bark fragments until final adult stage. Cankers were frequently associated with Ectomyelois muriscis larvae. The average incidence of the moth(2.9%) was not a significant concern, however, an extreme incidence of 45% would indicate that management strategies should be developed. This is the first report of Ectomyelois muriscis attacking the bark of Khaya grandifoliola in the Cerrado biome.