Phosphorus virescens

Phosphorus virescens
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Cerambycidae
Subfamily: Lamiinae
Tribe: Tragocephalini
Genus: Phosphorus
Thomson, 1857
Species:
P. virescens
Binomial name
Phosphorus virescens
(Olivier, 1795)
Synonyms
  • Tragocephala virescens (Olivier, 1795)
  • Phosphorus robustus Aurivillius, 1914
  • Prosopocera virescens (Olivier, 1795)
  • Voetia virescens (Olivier, 1795)
  • Cerambix virescens Olivier, 1795
  • Cerambix angulator Olivier, 1795

Phosphorus virescens is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Guillaume-Antoine Olivier in 1795, originally under the genus Cerambix. It has a wide distribution throughout Africa. It is the only species in the genus Phosphorus.

The species is known to damage Cola nitida in cultivation where it is known as the Kola tree borer. Larvae bore through the stems causing death of branches. The yellow coloration on the elytra is fluorescent.