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Latin Name: Trachymela sloanei
Common Name: Eucalyptus leaf beetle
Other Names: Eucalyptus tortoise beetle
Pest Details
Origin:
These two beetles are native to Australia, but were discovered in California in 1998 and 2003.
Biology:
This beetle is one of two species that have recently found their way into California from Australia, and which feed on the many species of exotic eucalyptus trees in that state. The beetles feed on the foliage, causing notched leaves and in heavy infestations may leave only the mid-vein of the leaf behind, resulting in near defoliation of the tree. This in turn stresses these trees and could lead to their death. Female beetles deposit up to 40 eggs on the leaves or under crevices on the bark. Both larvae and adults feed primarily at night, hiding under loose bark much of the day. Development from egg to adult can be about 5 weeks, and there may be 3 generations per year.
Identification:
Latin Name: Phoracantha semipunctata
Common Name: Eucalyptus longhorn
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Australia and introduced in 1984 to California.
Biology:
This species is one of two in the genus that were accidentally introduced into California in 1984 and 1994. They feed exclusively on eucalyptus trees, and at least 90 varieties of these trees currently grow in the western states, particularly California where the climate supports this group of trees from the Australian region. The beetle is drawn to freshly cut eucalyptus, to dying limbs of trees, and to trees under stress as from drought. Female beetles deposit eggs under loose bark of the tree and the larvae burrow into the cambium layer to feed, resulting in girdling of the tree. In warm months the life cycle may complete in just 4 months, with up to 3 generations per year possible.
Identification:
This is a fairly large beetle,
Latin Name: Rhizotrogus majalis
Common Name: European chafer
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This is likely a European species that was first discovered in North America in 1940 in New York. It now occupies all of the Upper Northeast states and into Ontario, Canada.
Biology:
This beetle’s white grub larvae can be very damaging to all types of turfgrasses, as well as pasture and agricultural grasses such as hay, wheat, and barley. The adult beetle feeds very little or not at all, only occasionally nibbling at the margins of leaves. The grubs feed in the top 2 inches of the soil, shearing off the roots of the plants. They begin feeding in spring and reach full development by the fall, with only a single generation each year, overwintering as the final instar nymph. Adults begin to emerge from the soil in mid-June and are usually gone by the end of July.
Identification:
Adult beetles are medium sized light brown beetles
Latin Name: Disonycha sp. / Capraita sp.
Common Name: Flea beetles
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
These are primarily native insects in North America.
Biology:
Several genera of leaf beetles may be called “flea” beetles due to their small size and ability to jump well on strong hind legs. There are 36 species in the genus Disonycha in North America and at least 16 species in the genus Capraita. The family Chrysomelidae is one of the largest families in North America, with nearly 2000 described species.
Identification:
Most species are colorful beetles with a yellow or orange thorax and black and white striped wing covers. Other common species are solid black or metallic dark blue on the wing covers and orange or red on the thorax. The first segment of the hind legs (the femur) is often much more expanded than the other segments, and gives the beetle the ability to quickly hop when disturbed.
Characteristicts
Latin Name: Naupactus cervinus
Common Name: Fuller rose weevil
Other Names: Formerly named Pantomorus godmani, Fuller’s rose beetle
Pest Details
Origin:
It is believed this beetle is native to Central and South America, but now well established across the U.S. and throughout the world, with occasional occurrences in southern Canada. It’s presence on plants being shipped from California to Japan has caused those shipments to be turned away and quarantines to be put in place.
Biology:
While it is named for and does damage to roses it also feeds on many other ornamental and agricultural plants. Larvae feed on the roots while the adults feed on the foliage, causing the typical damage of weevils as the small notching along the leaf margins. It occasionally causes serious problems in greenhouses. Females deposit more than 200 eggs in masses over a period of several months, gluing them to leaves or into crevices in the
Latin Name: Agrilus auroguttatus
Common Name: Gold-spotted oak borer
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
The gold-spotted oak borer is native to southeastern Arizona and a very similar species – Agrilus coxalis – is found in central Mexico to Guatemala.
Biology:
Oddly, in its native range in Arizona this beetle is not a pest problem, but since its 2004 discovery in southern California is has killed over 80,000 oak trees (by 2012) in San Diego County, CA. It attacks a number of different species of native and important California oak trees. Adults are active in late spring to early summer when the female deposits eggs into crevices in the bark of the tree. The larvae then bore through the bark and live within the phloem (water conducting) tissues in the cambium.
Identification:
Adult beetles are very distinctive, with an overall dark metallic green to black body on top, but with several bright orange
Latin Name: Cotinis sp.
Common Name: Green June beetle
Other Names: Fig eater beetle, Green fruit beetle
Pest Details
Origin:
These are native beetles in North America, with C. nitida occurring in the eastern U.S. and C. mutabilis occurring in the western U.S. and Mexico. Both species may occur in Texas.
Biology:
Two very similar species of Cotinis occur in the southern U.S. and Mexico, C. nitida and C. mutabilis. Both feed widely on thin-skinned fruits such as figs, peaches, and grapes as the adult beetle, and the larvae feed on decomposing plant matter. They can be a pest of turf as the larvae burrow through the soil, but they do not feed on the plant roots. Adult burrowing can create dirt mounds that are unsightly and damaging to mowers. Older larvae overwinter and pupate in mid-spring, with adults emerging in early summer.
Identification:
The adult beetles are very distinctive, being about
Latin Name: Hoplia callipyge
Common Name: Hoplia beetle
Other Names: Grapevine hoplia
Pest Details
Origin:
These are native beetles in North America.
Biology:
This species is the complement to the Rose Chafer of the eastern U.S., occurring in western North America from British Columbia south to Baja California and east to Utah and New Mexico. The adults feed on flowers of several plants but most often on roses, particularly on white or yellow flowered varieties.
Identification:
Adult beetles are about 3/8 inch long and are a dark tan to reddish brown color on the wings and with darker striping present, and with the head and thorax darker in color. The prothorax may have a slightly metallic tint to it.
Characteristicts Important to Control:
Control will be aimed primarily at the adult beetles using contact insecticides applied when the beetles are present on ornamental plants. Spraying
Latin Name: Popillia japonica
Common Name: Japanese beetle
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This terrible pest is a native of Japan, but was first discovered in the U.S. in 1916 in New Jersey. It now occupies and heavily infests the entire Northeast U.S. and southeastern Canada, with the Mississippi River about its western border.
Biology:
The larvae feed on the roots of grasses and will be extremely damaging to turf. There is a single generation per year in most areas, but the life cycle may require 2 years in cooler northern regions. Late stage larvae overwinter and adult beetles emerge in late spring. The adult beetles gather and feed in large accumulations, damaging or defoliating shrubs, trees, and agricultural crops. Their feeding usually causes skeletonizing of the leaf, leaving only the thicker veins behind.
Identification:
This beetle is about ½ inch long with a dark metallic green thorax
Latin Name: Chrysolina quadrigemina
Common Name: Klamath weed beetle
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
These beetles are native to Northern Africa and Europe.
Biology:
This is one of two nearly identical species of beetles imported from Europe for control of the noxious weed St. John’s Wort (Hypericum performatum), also referred to as Klamath Weed. While this plant is used commercially it also is an introduced weed in North America and many other continents and has become an invasive weed. Livestock that feed on the plant develop skin that is highly sensitive to sunlight, forming blisters, scaps, and they lose weight. In western United States the weed overwhelmed over 400,000 acres of open range before the beetles were introduced in 1944. The beetles have helped reduce the spread of the weed but also feed on ornamental Hypericum, which is related to St. John’s Wort. Both adults and larvae feed only on Hypericum plants.