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Beetles (Turf & Ornamental)
Latin Name: Xanthogaleruca luteola
Common Name: Elm leaf beetle
Other Names: Traditionally this has been in the genus Pyrrhalta
Pest Details
Origin:
This beetle is native to Europe but is now found throughout North America, having first been detected in Maryland in the 1830’s.
Biology:
Adult beetles overwinter, normally in leaf litter, crevices in the bark, and other protected places, but very commonly they will enter structures in the fall and overwinter in voids. Females deposit eggs in small clusters on the foliage of elm trees in the spring. After several weeks of feeding the larvae crawl down the trunk and pupate in or on the soil below the tree. There may be up to 3 generations per year in warm climates. Both adult beetles and the larvae feed on the leaves of elms, resulting in complete skeletonizing of the leaves and possible complete defoliation of the tree once these leaves fall.
Identification:
Latin Name: Agrilus planipennis
Common Name: Emerald ash borer
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
It is a native of eastern Asia and is believed to have entered North America in wood packaging materials.
Biology:
This destructive pest was first discovered in Michigan in 2002 but rapidly spread throughout the entire Northeast of the U.S. and into southern Canada. It attacks all species of ash trees and has resulted in the death of tens of millions of these trees since its discovery. Unusual for beetles in this family both adults and larvae feed within the tree, consuming the cambium and causes tree death from girdling. Also odd is that the adult male beetle tends the larvae to some extent until they have pupated. 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.
Latin Name: Ips sp.
Common Name: Engraver beetle
Other Names: 5-spined Ips
Pest Details
Origin:
These are native species that are found throughout North America.
Biology:
There are 23 species of Ips beetles in North America, the name “Ips” being Greek for “a worm”. They feed primarily on conifers such as pine and spruce, usually on weakened, stressed, or dying trees, but occasionally also on tops and branches of healthy trees. They are not considered as destructive as bark beetles in the genus Dendroctonus, and freshly downed logs will often be attacked by the females. Removal of trees for fire prevention and drought stress are two primary factors in outbreaks of these beetles. Adult beetles overwinter in cavities at the base of trees or the soil below and emerge in the spring. Males then burrow through the bark of a tree to create a nuptial chamber, females are attracted to this site, and mating takes place.
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