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Pest Remedies-Beetles:
Beetle, Alfalfa
Weevil (Hypera postica)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Curculionidae
Description:
Adults, gray brown to black with short gray hairs, up to 6 mm (1/4"),
medium snout. Larvae are white turning green with middorsal stripe. Eggs,
shiny yellow and oval.
Life Cycle: Winter at crowns of alfalfa or debris, feed in Spring, then lay eggs in
cavities in alfalfa stems.
Hosts/Damage: Plants are stunted or eaten to stub except for woody fibers.
Controls:
Cultural - Time cutting.
Biological - Some parasitoids are available.
Chemical - Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant,
yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Asparagus (Crioceris asparagi)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adult, blue, black or brown with enlarged rear mottled with yellow, tan or
orange. Also variety which is orange with black spots. (1/4 inch) 6 mm long. Larva
are olive, green to gray with black head and legs.
Range: Throughout U.S.A.
Life Cycle:
Adults  fly in to
feed on asparagus and lay dark eggs on spears. Adults overwinter in debris. Larva hatch within a week and feed on
host for several weeks when they pupate in ground as yellow pupae. 2 - 5 generations
per year.
Hosts/Damage:
Tender tips of asparagus are chewed in Spring but later in season adults and larvae
chew on stems and ferny leaves.
Controls:
Cultural -
Use row covers to exclude adults. Handpicking. Water spray. Remove debris. Prompt
harvesting of asparagus.
Biological - Spined soldier bugs.
Chemical -
Rotenone. Various other sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware
store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself,
your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Banded
Alder Borer (Rosalia funebris)
Alternate Names: California laurel borer.
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Cerambycidae
Description:
Adult, long-horned beetle, to 38 mm (1-1/2"), prothorax with large centered
blue-gray spot, Wing covers have 3 blue-gray bands, 3 white bands and 2 small white spots,
head black, antennae long, blue-gray and white with black tips.
Life Cycle: Eggs are laid on bark, larvae tunnel inward to prepare pupal chambers.
Hosts/Damage: Larvae mine California laurel, Oregon ash, New Mexico Willow and Alder.
Controls:
Cultural - zzz
Biological - zzz
Chemical - Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant,
yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Banded Cucumber (Diabrotica
balteata)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae 
Description:
Adults, light green with transverse yellow bands across the wings, (1/4 - 3/8
inch) 6 - 10 mm long. Larva, white, 3/8" (10 mm) long, found in soil feeding
on roots and in stems, not usually a pest of tomatoes. It has 6 long, brown colored legs. Pupae,
found in soil, emerge as adults in about 1 week. Eggs, small, oval, pale yellow and
found in soil in clusters of 1 - 12, hatch in 1 week.
Life Cycle:
Adults overwinter in the plant debris. Adults leave their winter sites in late
March and adults lay eggs
beneath host plants in Spring, from late April to early June. Before cucurbits are
available they eat leaves and stems. Larvae burrow into soil at base of host and chew on roots for about 1
- 3 weeks before pupating.
Hosts/Damage:
Adults are minor pest and attack cucumbers, corn, cantaloupes, winter and summer
squash, pumpkins, gourds, watermelon, beans, peas, potato, beet, tomato, eggplant and
cabbage. They feed on young seedlings causing poor stands and reduced yield. They chew
leaves and tender shoots and may girdle the stem. They feed on flowers and gnaw holes in
fruit. Adults harbor the bacterial wilt organism (Pseudomonas lachrymans) which
they transmit to their host. They also spread cucumber mosaic.
Range: Mexico to Canada but are most abundant and destructive in Southern Florida.
Controls:
Cultural - Plant host resistant varieties. Row covers to exclude adults. Handpick
adults. It is vital to eliminate adults early before they have spread diseases to the
various host plants. Till field early and remove garden debris. Delay planting.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe). Tachnid fly (Celatoria
diabrotica) to parasitize eggs.
Chemical - Sabadilla or rotenone and pyrethrum to kill adults. Various other sprays and
baits are available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label instructions
carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Bean Leaf(Cerotoma
trifurcata)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adults are reddish-orange to yellow, shiny with a black head and often with black spots
and bands; (about 1/4 inch) 6 mm. Larvae are slender, white with dark brown at both ends,
segmented and have 6 very small legs near the head. Eggs are orange, lemon shaped and
found in small clusters. Pupae are exposed, white and soft-bodied.
Life Cycle:
Adults pass the winter near fields previously planted. They are found under the leaves
of the host as soon as the plant emerges. Females lay their eggs in small clusters on the
ground near the base of the plants. Eggs hatch and larva feed on the roots and stems for
about a month. Full grown larvae form a cell from earth and pupate. About one week later,
adults appear. There are at least 2 generations each year in warm climates.
Hosts/Damage:
Bean, pea, cowpeas, soybean, corn and related weeds. Damage is most destructive by the
beetles on young plants where they chew round holes in the leaves. Larvae bore into roots and stems. Adults feed on leaves through the Summer.
Damage to older plants usually results in rough lesions and reduced quality.
Distribution: Mostly in Southeastern U.S. but ranges to Canada and New Mexico.
Controls:
Cultural - Hand pick and destroy larvae and adult beetles. Try to time planting host
between 2 beetle generations. Remove debris from garden. Till field.
Biological - Unknown.
Chemical - Rotenone or pyrethrum will control but usually not necessary. Various other
sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label
instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the
environment.
Beetle, Buffalo
Carpet (Anthrenus scrophulariae)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Dermestidae
Description:
Adult, black and gray mottled pattern on wing covers up to 4 mm (5/32"),
short antennae, very common.
Life Cycle: Adults emerge in Spring and are common on flowers and inside of windows in
infested areas.
Hosts/Damage: Larvae commonly feed on woolen fabrics, dried animal products and dried
insects.
Controls:
Cultural - Keep fabrics clean and in tightly sealed containers, keep any items in
sealed containers.
Biological -
Chemical - Use mothballs with woolens. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid
injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Carrot (Ligyrus
gibbosus)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Scarabaeidae 
Description:
Adult is about (1/2 inch)
12 to 13 mm and reddish brown or black with dimpled shell. Larva is bluish-white with brown head,
curved and about (1 inch) 25 mm long. Eggs are whitish.
Life Cycle: Eggs laid in early Spring in the soil. One generation per year. Overwinters
as adult in soil.
Hosts/Damage:
Beets, carrots, celery, corn, parsley, parsnips, potato. Larvae chews roots of various
grain crops. Adults chew on stems and roots of host but rarely do much damage.
Controls:
Cultural - Till soil.
Biological - Unknown
Chemical - Various other sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware
store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself,
your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Colorada Potato (Leptinotarsa
decimlineata) 
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adults, (about 1/3 inch) 9 to 10 mm in length. Black striped on yellow back and
black spots on orange hood. Grubs (larvae), are small red-humped with articulated
legs. Eggs, orange jelly bean shape.
Life Cycle:
In the Spring, females lay hundreds of elongated orange eggs in clusters under leaves.
About one week later, the grubs emerge and feed for a time and then burrow into the ground
to pupate. The pupae may overwinter. There are 1 to 3 generations per year.
Hosts/Damage:
Tomato family vegetables and flowers. Adults and larvae (grubs) chew leaves and stems and may completely devour plant.
Controls:
Cultural - Plant resistant varieties. Rotate crops. Time plantings when beetles are not
present. Use row covers to exclude them. Hand pick. Apply thick mulch to keep grubs from
pupating. Tilling soil.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe). Bt san diego.
Spined soldier bugs to destroy grubs..
Chemical - Rotenone. Various other sprays and baits are available at your nursery or
hardware store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant,
yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Corn Flea(Chaetocnema
pulicaria)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adults, are yellow-brown with bronze tone; (about 1/10 inch) 3 mm. Thickened
hind legs enable them to jump. Larvae, are whitish, slender, delicate, cyclincrical
worms from (1/8 - 1/3 inch) 3 - 8 mm long with small legs and brownish heads.
Life Cycle:
Adults usually overwinter in garden debris and nearby weeds.They move into the host
plants in the Spring and feed especially on young plants. The adults lay eggs scattered
under host plants. Eggs hatch in about 10 days and feed on roots for 3 or 4 weeks. Pupae
usually stay in soil for about 10 days before adults emerge to feed on leaves.
Hosts/Damage:
This is a general feeder which attacks most vegetables. Larvae bore into roots and stems. Adults
feed on leaves through the
Summer. Leaves are eaten in shot-hole pattern. Bacterial wilt of corn can be spread by
beetle.
Controls:
Cultural - Hand pick and destroy larvae and adult beetles.Keep field debris and
weed-free. Use plant covers. Late planting helps.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe).
Chemical - Rotenone or pyrethrum will control but usually not necessary. Various other
sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label
instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the
environment.
Beetle, Corn Wireworm(Melanotus
communis)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Elateridae
Description:
Adults, are click beetles; they are noted for their ability to click their
bodies to flip upright when they fall on their back. Larvae, are large wireworms,
with tough shiny skins.
Life Cycle:
Hosts/Damage:
Sweet potato is usual host. Larvae bore into roots and stems and are active for a year before
becoming adults.
Controls:
Cultural - Cultivate garden frequently. Hand pick and destroy larvae and adult beetles.
Trap larvae with sacrificial chunks of potato; frequently check and destroy wireworms.
Keep field, debris and weed free. Crop rotation sometimes helps. Plant wireworm resistant
plants.
Biological - Unknown.
Chemical - Various sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware store.
Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or
the environment.
Beetle, Drugstore
(Stegobium paniceum)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Anobiidae
Description:
Adult, brown, about 3 mm (1/8"), head bent down giving humped appearance,
distinct lines or grooves on forewings.
Life Cycle: Up to 4 generations/year.
Hosts/Damage:
Larvae commonly feed on foodstuffs, pet foods, spices, dried animal products, drugs,
many toxic materials and dried insects. They will even burrow through wood to get to food.
Controls:
Cultural - Keep materials in tightly sealed containers.
Biological -
Chemical - Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant,
yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Eastern Field Wireworm (Limonius
agonus)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Elateridae
Description:
Adults, are click beetles which black to greyish or brown with dark spots on the
head and bands across the wing covers. They are noted for their ability to click their
bodies to flip upright when they fall on their back. Eggs, are laid in damp soil
several inches below the surface. Larvae, are brown to yellowish, large wireworms
(1/3 -1/2 inch) 6 - 13 mm, with tough shiny skins.
Life Cycle:
Hosts/Damage:
Adults overwinter in soil and eggs are laid in damp soil several inches below the
surface. Larvae bore into
roots and stems and are active for a year before becoming adults. Bean, beet, carrot,
corn, lettuce, onion, pea and potatoes are usual host for larvae.
Controls:
Cultural - Cultivate garden frequently. Hand pick and destroy larvae and adult beetles.
Trap larvae with sacrificial chunks of potato; frequently check and destroy wireworms.
Keep field, debris and weed free. Crop rotation sometimes helps. Plant wireworm resistant
plants.
Biological - Unknown.
Chemical - Various sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware store.
Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or
the environment.
Beetle, Eggplant Flea (Epitrix fuscula)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adults, are mostly black; (about 1/10 inch) 3 mm. Thickened hind legs enable
them to jump. Larvae, are whitish, slender, delicate, cylindrical worms from (1/8 -
1/3 inch) 3 - 8 mm long with small legs and brownish heads.
Life Cycle:
Adults usually overwinter in garden debris and nearby weeds.They move into the host
plants in the Spring and feed especially on young plants. The adults lay eggs scattered
under host plants. Eggs hatch in about 10 days and feed on roots for 3 or 4 weeks. Pupae
usually stay in soil for about 10 days before adults emerge to feed on leaves.
Hosts/Damage:
Mostly eggplant. Larvae
bore into roots and stems. Adults feed
on leaves through the Summer. Leaves are eaten in shot-hole pattern.
Controls:
Cultural - Hand pick and destroy larvae and adult beetles.Use plant covers. Keep field
debris and weed-free. Late planting helps.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe).
Chemical - Rotenone or pyrethrum will control but usually not necessary. Various other
sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label
instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the
environment.
Beetle, Elm Leaf (Pyrrhalta
luteola)
 
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adults, are (1/4 inch) 6 - 7 mm long, yellowish green with short and long black
stripes on left and right wing covers. Larvae, grow to 1/2" (13 mm) before
pupating; initially black which turn yellow with 2 lateral black stripes. Eggs, are
yellow and found in clusters.
Life Cycle:
Adults overwinter in
protected places such as buildings until Spring when they fly to elm trees to feed on new
leaves. They lay onion-shaped, yellowish eggs on underside of leaves, then die. The
hatched larva feed on leaves
for several weeks before dropping to the ground where they pupate in debris. There are up
to 5 generations per year in the South but only one in North.
Hosts/Damage:
Elm or Japanese zelkova leaves are chewed to a lace. Chewed leaves eventually turn
brown and drop. Repeated defoliation may kill the tree.
Controls:
Cultural - Sticky bands on tree trunk, handpicking and keeping debris removed from
under tree.
Biological - Mix fine oil to Bt san diego and spray leaves. Spined soldier
bugs. Birds. Parasitic wasps.
Chemical - Various other sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware
store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself,
your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Fig(Cotinis texana)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Scarabaeidae 
Description:
Adults, are green or coppery with bronze wing-cover margins; (about 1/2 inch) 13
mm. Larvae, are whitish with brown head (about 2 inches) 25 mm long and comes to
surface in wet weather. Eggs, are grey and oval or round.
Life Cycle:
Adults lay eggs in organic rich soil in summer. Larvae overwinter deep in soil. They
pupate in early Spring and beetles move into the host plants in the Summer.
Hosts/Damage:
Adults feed on most tree
fruits and berries as well as corn and other vegetables through the Summer; also chew
holes in leaves. Larvae feed
on roots.
Controls:
Cultural - Hand pick and destroy larvae and adult beetles.Keep field debris and
weed-free.
Biological - Unknown.
Chemical - Various other sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware
store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself,
your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Flatheaded Appletree Borer
(Chrysobothris femorata)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Buprestidae
Description:
Adult, dark olive gray to brown with metallic luster, blunt at head end,
tapering at rear, about 13 mm (1/2"). Larvae, about 31 mm (1-1/4"),
yellow white, slender with broad, flat enlargement behind head, usually lying with body
curved to one side, sometimes U-shaped.
Life Cycle:
Adults emerge in May or June and hang around sunny side of trees or logs. Lay eggs in
bark cracks or part of tree trunk injured. One generation/year.Winter passed as grub
Hosts/Damage:
Grubs (larvae) burrow under bark until full size, tunnels filled with feces, run
6" or more down or around trunk.Overlying bark is discolored and slightly sunken.
Grubs mine inner bark, cambium, sapwood and heartwood of healthy, injuerd or dying
deciduous fruit and shade trees. For example, apple, apricot, ash, mountain ash, beech,
boxelder, cherry, chestnut, cottonwood, currant, dogwood, elm, hickory, horsechestnut,
linden, maple, oak, peach, pear, pecan, plum, poplar, prune, sycamore, willow, raspberry,
rose. Injury is worse in dry seasons, sunscalded trees and excessively pruned.
Controls:
Cultural - Keep plants healthy and don't excessively prune.
Biological -
Chemical - Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant,
yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Flea (Epitris spp.)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae 
Description:
Adults, dark-brown and black; (about 1/6 inch) 3 mm, thickened hind legs enable
them to jump. Larvae, white, slender, delicate, cylindrical worms from (1/8 - 1/3
inch) 3 - 8 mm long with small legs and brownish heads. Eggs, white.
Life Cycle:
Adults usually overwinter in garden debris and nearby weeds.They move into the host
plants in the Spring and feed especially on young plants. The adults lay eggs scattered
under host plants. Eggs hatch in about 10 days and feed on roots for 3 or 4 weeks. Pupae
usually stay in soil for about 10 days before adults emerge to feed on leaves.
Hosts/Damage:
Corn, cabbage family, sweet potato and members of morning glory family. Larvae bore into roots and stems. Adults
feed on leaves through the
Summer. Leaves are eaten in shot-hole pattern. Bacterial wilt can be spread by beetle.
Controls:
Cultural - Hand pick and destroy larvae and adult beetles.Keep field debris and
weed-free. Late planting helps.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe).
Chemical - Rotenone or pyrethrum will control but usually not necessary. Various other
sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label
instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the
environment.
Beetle, Flea (Phyllotreta striolata)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adults, are yellow-brown with bronze tone; (about 1/10 inch) 3 mm. Thickened
hind legs enable them to jump. Larvae, are whitish, slender, delicate, cylindrical
worms from (1/8 - 1/3 inch) 3 - 8 mm long with small legs and brownish heads.
Life Cycle:
Adults usually overwinter in garden debris and nearby weeds.They move into the host
plants in the Spring and feed especially on young plants. The adults lay eggs scattered
under host plants. Eggs hatch in about 10 days and feed on roots for 3 or 4 weeks. Pupae
usually stay in soil for about 10 days before adults emerge to feed on leaves.
Hosts/Damage:
Corn, cabbage family, sweet potato and members of morning glory family. Larvae bore into roots and stems. Adults
feed on leaves through the
Summer. Leaves are eaten in shot-hole pattern. Bacterial wilt can be spread by beetle.
Controls:
Cultural - Hand pick and destroy larvae and adult beetles.Keep field debris and
weed-free. Late planting helps.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe).
Chemical - Rotenone or pyrethrum will control but usually not necessary. Various other
sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label
instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the
environment.
Beetle, Grape Colaspis (Colaspis
brunnea)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adults, are light brown, oval beetle (1/5 inch) 5 mm long. Larvae, are
whitish and plump. Eggs, are laid at the base of the host plant.
Life Cycle: One generation per year. Larvae overwinter in the soil.
Hosts/Damage:
Attack apple, bean, corn, grape, melon, potato and strawberry plants. Adults make long, curved or zigzag holes
in leaves. May not do serious damage. Larvae burrow into large roots and may destroy seedlings.
Controls:
Cultural - Thorough fall tilling destroys larvae.
Biological - Unknown
Chemical - Various other sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware
store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself,
your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Grape Flea (Altica
chalybea)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adult, is (about 1/10 inch) 2 mm long and metallic blue or green. Larvae,
are very small and are yellowish with black spots.
Life Cycle: 1 or 2 generations per year. Adults overwinter in garden debris or soil.
Hosts/Damage:
Adults feed on young
leaves, riddling them with shot holes. Larvae also chew on buds and leaves.
Controls:
Cultural - Till soil in fall.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe).
Chemical - Rotenone. Various other sprays and baits are available at your nursery or
hardware store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant,
yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Japanese (Papillia
japonica)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Scarabaeidae
Description:
Adults, are metallic blue or green with copper colored wing covers and about
(1/2 inch) 12 mm long. Larvae, are C-shaped, greyish white with brown heads, plump
and about (3/4 inch) 19 mm long. Eggs, are white and laid singly or in groups in
sod.
Life Cycle:
Mature larva (grubs)
overwinter in deep soil and begin moving upward in the Spring. Pupation occurs in early
Summer. Adults emerge and
begin feeding by mid-Summer and continue through Fall. Eggs are laid in late Summer. Life
cycle covers two years.
Hosts/Damage:
Leaves, flowers and fruit of over 275 plant species including lawns. Apple, cherry,
grape, peach, plum, quince, raspberry, rhubarb are examples. Vegetables are an exception.
Adults skeletonize leaves, flowers and fruit are eaten. Larvae especially like lawns and
other plant roots.
Controls:
Cultural - Handpick adults. Tilling to kill pupae and larvae.
Biological - Parasitize eggs with Fall tiphia wasp(Tiphia popilliavora), Spring
tiphia wasp (Tiphia vernalis), tachinid flies (Hyperecteina aldrichi and
Prosena siberita). Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe) and
milky spore disease to kill larvae.
Chemical - Rotenone on adults. Pyrethrum on adults. Various other sprays and baits are
available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label instructions carefully to
avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, June (Phyllophaga sp.)
Alternative Names: May, June Bugs, Daw Bugs
Order: Coleoptera Family: Scarabaeidae
Description:
Adult: large, red brown or black, about 25 mm (1"), about 200 species, fly
at night and attracted to lights, often try to enter houses. Hide in grass or debris
during daytime. Larvae (grubs) look like Japanese beetle grubs but larger, 13 - 37
mm (1/2 - 1-1/2"), white, spines underneath in shape of elongated diamond.
Life Cycle:
Females burrow into soil to lay their eggs. Lay eggs in soil ball several inches below
surface of sod. eggs hatch in 2 - 3 weeks. Grubs (larvae) feed until Fall. Grubs come up
to feed in Spring prior to forming pupae, the adult is formed the following Spring. Adults
appear about May - July
Hosts/Damage:
Adults feed on leaves of ash, birch, butternut, elm, hickory, poplar, oaks, tuliptree,
willow and other ornamentals. Most prefer hardwood but some southern species feed on pine,
cypress and roses.
Control:
Cultural - Till soil in Fall. Don't plant susceptible crops for at least on year after
field plowed from sod.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe).
Chemical - Various pesticides are available at your nursery or hardware store.
Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or
the environment.
Beetle, Klamathweed (Chryolina quadrigemina)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description: Unknown
Life Cycle: Unknown
Hosts/Damage: Beneficial . Eats Klamath weed.
Controls:
Cultural - None
Biological - None
Chemical - None
Beetle, Margined Blister (Epicauta
pestifera)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Meloidae
Description:
Adult, is black with narrow gray margin around each wing cover with soft
elongated body, long legs and narrow neck. About 13 mm long. Immature, varies from
white grub like larva to adult like appearance. Eggs, are cylindrical.
Life Cycle:
One generation per year. Insect overwinters as immature in tunnels in the soil where
the eggs are laid and hatched.
Hosts/Damage:
Adults feed on many garden
vegetables. Immatures feed on
grasshopper eggs so they are beneficial.
Controls:
Cultural - Handpick with gloves to avoid blistering secretion from adults. Till soil to
discourage immatures.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae.
Chemical - Rotenone. Pyrethrum. Various other sprays and baits are available at your
nursery or hardware store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your
plant, yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Mexican Bean
(Epilachna varivestas)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Coccinellidae
Description:
Adults, are yellow
to coppery-brown colored with 16 black spots and resemble ladybugs. Larvae, are (1/3 inch) 8 to 9 mm long and
are yellow with 6 rows of long black-tipped spines along their back. Eggs, are
yellow-orange and about 1/20" (2 mm); they are found in clusters of 40 or more under
host leaves. Pupae, is smooth, yellow-orange, round in front and attached under
host leaves.
Life Cycle:
Adults feed, mate and lay clusters of eggs under host leaves in Spring over a 2 week
period. Eggs hatch within 2 weeks and larvae feed before pupating attached to leaves.
There are up to 4 generations per year. Adults overwinter in wooded areas or in garden
debris.
Hosts/Damage:
Adults and larvae feed on cowpeas, soybean, clover, alfalfa, bean leaves and beans and
pods (leaves are chewed to a lace). Heavily infested plants usually die. Damage is most
severe in July and August.
Controls:
Cultural - Row covers keep adults out. Keep garden debris removed. Handpick adults.
Traps. Early or fall planting.
Biological - Bean beetle parasites. Spined soldier bugs.
Chemical - Neem. Rotenone. Various other sprays and baits are available at your nursery
or hardware store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant,
yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Northern Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica
barberi)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adult, is yellow, pale green or brownish red beetles with long antenna. Some may
have black spots or stripes. Larvae, are brown headed white worms (1/2 - 2/3 inch)
12 to 18 mm long.
Life Cycle:
Up to 3 generations per year. The adult females lay orange yellow eggs at the base of
corn plants. The young larvae that hatch feed on corn roots for several weeks before
pupating in the soil in late July or August. Corn planted after several years of planting
a given area, late planted corn and corn under drought stress are most susceptible to
attack.
Hosts/Damage:
Adults feed on pollen,
silks and tassels of corn which results in deformed ears and undeveloped kernels. They may
also feed on leaves. The larvae
feed on corn roots.
Controls:
Cultural - Till soil to kill eggs and larvae. Handpick adults. Rotate corn crop to
another area every 2 years.
Biological - Parasitic insects attack eggs and larvae.
Chemical - Various other sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware
store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself,
your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Obscure
Root Weevil (Otiorhynchus spp.)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Curculionidae
Description: Adult, gray brown with a dark, white-bordered irregular band on
wing covers.
Life Cycle: Typical beetle.
Hosts/Damage:
Adult feeds on rhododendron, azalea, vibernum, camellia, rose, yew, etc. Larvae feed on
roots. Also a problem on small fruit plants.
Controls:
Cultural - zzz
Mechanical - Use sticky material as barrier on plant stem.
Biological - zzz
Chemical - Check nursery or hardware store for pesticides. Follow label
instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the
environment.
Beetle, Potato Flea (Epitrix cucumeris)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adults, are mostly black; (about 1/10 inch) 3 mm. Thickened hind legs enable
them to jump. Larvae, are whitish, slender, delicate, cyclincrical worms from (1/8
- 1/3 inch) 3 - 8 mm long with small legs and brownish heads.
Life Cycle:
Adults usually overwinter in garden debris and nearby weeds.They move into the host
plants in the Spring and feed especially on young plants. The adults lay eggs scattered
under host plants. Eggs hatch in about 10 days and feed on roots for 3 or 4 weeks. Pupae
usually stay in soil for about 10 days before adults emerge to feed on leaves.
Hosts/Damage:
Potato, tobacco, tomato, pepper, horsenettle and related weeds. Larvae bore into roots and stems and
cause substantial damage. Adults feed
on leaves through the Summer. Leaves are eaten in shot-hole pattern..
Controls:
Cultural - Hand pick and destroy larvae and adult beetles.Use plant covers. Keep field
debris and weed-free. Late planting helps.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe).
Chemical - Rotenone or pyrethrum will control but usually not necessary. Various other
sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label
instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the
environment.
Beetle, Quince
Curculio Weevil (Conotrachelus crataegi)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Curculionidae
Description: Adult, broad, gray brown. Larvae (Grubs), white, legless.
Life Cycle:
Adults lay eggs in fruit. Grubs feed in fruit during the summer but drop to ground
before fruit falls. Grub overwinters in soil.
Hosts/Damage: Adults eat irregular cavities in Quince.
Controls:
Cultural - None
Biological - ?
Chemical - ? Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant,
yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Rose Chafer
(Macrodactylus subspinosus)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Scarabaeidae
Description:
Adults, are about (1/2 inch) 12 mm long; long legged, slender and light tan
color. Larvae, are about (2/3 inch) 18 mm long, white and slim.
Life Cycle:
Adults emerge in Spring from the pupae stage and feed for a few weeks before laying
eggs in sandy soil. The larvae emerge and feed in sandly soil near the surface and then
tunnel deeper during the winter to pupate. There is one generation per year.
Hosts/Damage:
Adults feed on many flowers
including roses and peonies; leaves are chewed to a lace and they eat holes in flowers.
Some fruits and vegetables are also attacked. Larvae attack lawns and roots of other hosts.
Controls:
Cultural - Row covers to exclude adults. Handpick adults. White sticky traps to catch
adults. Till soil to kill larvae and pupae.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe).
Chemical - Rotenone and pyrethrum spray adults. Various other sprays and baits are
available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label instructions carefully to
avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Roundheaded Appletree
Borer (Saperda candida)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Cerambycidae
Description:
Adults, about 25 mm (1") long, yellow or red brown above, white underneath,
2 white stripes the length of body and prominent gray antennae. Larvae (Grubs), initially
brown red turning to creamy white, rounded thickening behind head.
Range: Eastern U.S.
Life Cycle:
Females lay eggs on trunks, usually not more than 2 - 3 ft above ground in May - August
depending on how far North. See below for details.
Hosts/Damage:
Young apple, pear, quince, peach and cherry trees may be killed the first year. Older
trees may last 2 -3 years before being blown over due to weakening of the trunk. Grub
begins with bark producing brown sap stains, then tunnels into sapwood for a year or two,
ejecting conspicuous coils of rusty brown feces. The next season it bores into the
heartwood, tunneling outward in Fall to prepare a Winter chamber near bark. the grub
pupates here in May and the beetle emerges May - July. Adult feeds somewhat on leaves and
fruit.
Controls:
Cultural - Handpick adults. White sticky traps to catch adults. Till soil to kill
larvae and pupae.
Biological - ?
Chemical - Various other sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware
store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself,
your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Sap (Nitidula sp.)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Nitidulidae
Beetle, Shothole Borer (Scolytus
rugulosus)
TBD
Beetle, Southern Potato Wireworm
(Conoderus falli)
TBD
Beetle, Spotted Asparagus (Crioceris
duodecimpunctata)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adult, is red or light brown with 12 black spots on wing covers, shiny, smooth
and about (1/3 inch) 8 mm long. Larva, is orange with black head and legs, plump
and about (1/3 inch) 8 mm long. Eggs, are dark brown to green.
Life Cycle: Up to 2 generations per year. Eggs are laid under host leaves.
Hosts/Damage: Adults feed
on asparagus spears and leaves in early Summer. Larvae do little damage.
Controls:
Cultural - Row covers exclude adults. Handpick adults. Remove debris to expose eggs and
larvae to predators.
Biological - Chalcid wasps parasitize eggs. Spined soldier bugs attack larvae..
Chemical - Rotenone kills adults and larvae. Various other sprays and baits are
available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label instructions carefully to
avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Spotted Cucumber (Diabrotica
undecimpunctata)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae 
Description:
Adults, are yellowish-green with 12 black spots, (1/4 inch) 6 mm long. The head,
legs and antennae are black. Beaded antennae are about 1/16" (2 mm) long. Larvae,
slim, yellow-white with wrinkled body are dark at both ends and are 1/2 - 3/4" (13 -
19 mm) long. It has 6 long, brown colored legs. Pupae, are white to yellow and
about 1/4" (6 mm) long. Eggs, are oval, orange-yellow and found in clusters of
25 - 50 under host leaves.
Life Cycle:
Adults overwinter in the plant debris. Adults leave their winter sites in late March
and adults lay eggs beneath
host plants in Spring, from late April to early June. Before cucurbits are available they
eat leaves and stems. Larvae burrow
into soil at base of host and chew on roots for about 1 month before pupating. There are 1
to 4 generations per year and a complete life cycle takes 6 - 9 weeks..
Hosts/Damage:
Adults attack cucumbers, corn, cantaloupes, winter and summer squash, pumpkins, gourds,
watermelon, beans, peas, potato, beet, tomato, eggplant and cabbage. They feed on young
seedlings causing poor stands and reduced yield. They chew leaves and tender shoots and
may girdle the stem. They feed on flowers and gnaw holes in fruit. Adults harbor the
bacterial wilt organism (Pseudomonas lachrymans) which they transmit to their
host. They also spread cucumber mosaic. The larvae is the southern corn rootworm.
Range: Mexico to Canada but are most abundant and destructive in the warmer climates.
Controls:
Cultural - Plant host resistant varieties. Row covers to exclude adults. Handpick
adults. It is vital to eliminate adults early before they have spread diseases to the
various host plants. Till field early and remove garden debris. Delay planting.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe). Tachnid fly (Celatoria
diabrotica) to parasitize eggs.
Chemical - Sabadilla or rotenone and pyrethrum to kill adults. Various other sprays and
baits are available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label instructions
carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Spotted Grapevine (Pelidnota
punctata)
TBD
Beetle, Striped Blister (Epicauta
vittata)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Meloidae
Description:
Adults, (1/2 - 2/3 inch) 13 to 17 mm long. Yellow and black alternating stripes
on back. Middle part of body is noticeably smaller than head.
Life Cycle: Adults lay eggs under soil. Larvae feed on grasshopper eggs until they
pupate to adult beetles.
Hosts/Damage:
Larvae feed on grasshopper
eggs in the soil so are beneficial in that stage. Adults feed on many weeds, flowers and vegetables, especially those
in the tomato family.
Controls:
Cultural - Hand picking (Use gloves to avoid painful skin blisters). Tilling soil.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae .
Chemical - Rotenone and pyrethrum. Various other sprays and baits are available at your
nursery or hardware store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your
plant, yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Striped Cucumber (Acalymma
vitatum)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adults, are yellowish with 3 black stripes, up to (3/16 inch) 5 mm long. The
head, legs and antennae are black. Beaded antennae are about 1/16" (2 mm) long. Larvae,
slim, yellow-white with wrinkled body are dark at both ends and are 1/2 - 3/4" (13 -
19 mm) long. It has 6 long, brown colored legs. Pupae, are white to yellow and
about 1/4" (6 mm) long. Eggs, are oval, orange-yellow and found in clusters of
25 - 50 under host leaves.
Life Cycle:
Adults overwinter in the plant debris. Adults leave their winter sites in late March
and adults lay eggs beneath
host plants in Spring, from late April to early June. Before cucurbits are available they
eat leaves and stems. Larvae burrow
into soil at base of host and chew on roots for about 1 month before pupating. There are 1
to 4 generations per year and a complete life cycle takes 6 - 9 weeks..
Hosts/Damage:
Adults attack cucumbers, corn, cantaloupes, winter and summer squash, pumpkins, gourds,
watermelon, beans and peas. They feed on young seedlings causing poor stands and reduced
yield. They chew leaves and tender shoots and may girdle the stem. They feed on flowers
and gnaw holes in fruit. Adults harbor the bacterial wilt organism (Pseudomonas
lachrymans) which they transmit to their host. They also spread cucumber mosaic.
Range: Mexico to Canada but are most abundant and destructive in the warmer climates.
Controls:
Cultural - Plant resistant varieties. Use row covers. Hand pick. Till field early and
remove garden debris. Delay planting.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe).
Chemical - Rotenone. Various other sprays and baits are available at your nursery or
hardware store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant,
yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Striped Flea (Phyllotreta
striolata)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adults, have a crooked, yellowish strip on each wing cover; (about 1/2 inch) 13
mm long. Thickened hind legs enable them to jump. Larvae, are whitish, slender,
delicate, cyclincrical worms from (1/8 - 1/3 inch) 3 - 8 mm long with small legs and
brownish heads.
Life Cycle:
Adults usually overwinter in garden debris and nearby weeds.They move into the host
plants in the Spring and feed especially on young plants. The adults lay eggs scattered
under host plants. Eggs hatch in about 10 days and feed on roots for 3 or 4 weeks. Pupae
usually stay in soil for about 10 days before adults emerge to feed on leaves.
Hosts/Damage:
Cabbage family. Larvae bore
into roots and stems. Adults
feed on leaves through the Summer. Leaves are eaten in shot-hole pattern.
Controls:
Cultural - Hand pick and destroy larvae and adult beetles.Use plant covers. Keep field
debris and weed-free. Late planting helps.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe).
Chemical - Rotenone or pyrethrum will control but usually not necessary. Various other
sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label
instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the
environment.
Beetle, Sweetpotato Flea (Chaetocnema
confinis)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adults, are yellow-brown with bronze tone; (about 1/10 inch) 3 mm. Thickened
hind legs enable them to jump. Larvae, are whitish, slender, delicate, cyclincrical
worms from (1/8 - 1/3 inch) 3 - 8 mm long with small legs and brownish heads.
Life Cycle:
Adults usually overwinter in garden debris and nearby weeds.They move into the host
plants in the Spring and feed especially on young plants. The adults lay eggs scattered
under host plants. Eggs hatch in about 10 days and feed on roots for 3 or 4 weeks. Pupae
usually stay in soil for about 10 days before adults emerge to feed on leaves.
Hosts/Damage:
Corn, cabbage family, sweet potato and members of morning glory family. Larvae bore into roots and stems and can
cause heavy losses. Adults
feed on leaves through the Summer. Leaves are eaten in shot-hole pattern.
Controls:
Cultural - Hand pick and destroy larvae and adult beetles.Use plant covers. Keep field
debris and weed-free. Late planting helps.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe).
Chemical - Rotenone or pyrethrum will control but usually not necessary. Various other
sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label
instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the
environment.
Beetle, Tobacco Flea (Epitrix
hirtipennis)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Chrysomelidae
Description:
Adults, are yellow-brown with dark band across the wings; (about 1/10 inch) 3
mm. Thickened hind legs enable them to jump. Larvae, are whitish, slender,
delicate, cyclincrical worms from (1/8 - 1/3 inch) 3 - 8 mm long with small legs and
brownish heads.
Life Cycle:
Adults usually overwinter in garden debris and nearby weeds.They move into the host
plants in the Spring and feed especially on young plants. The adults lay eggs scattered
under host plants. Eggs hatch in about 10 days and feed on roots for 3 or 4 weeks. Pupae
usually stay in soil for about 10 days before adults emerge to feed on leaves.
Hosts/Damage:
Potato, tobacco, tomato, pepper, horsenettle and related weeds. Larvae bore into roots and stems. Adults
feed on leaves through the
Summer. Leaves are eaten in shot-hole pattern.
Controls:
Cultural - Hand pick and destroy larvae and adult beetles.Keep field debris and
weed-free. Late planting helps.
Biological - Parasitic nematodes attack larvae and pupae (e.g. Biosafe).
Chemical - Rotenone or pyrethrum will control but usually not necessary. Various other
sprays and baits are available at your nursery or hardware store. Follow label
instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant, yourself, your pets or the
environment.
Beetle, Tobacco Wireworm (Conderus
vespertinus)
TBD
Beetle, Varied Carpet (Anthrenus
verbasci)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: zzz
Description: zzz
Life Cycle: zzz
Hosts/Damage: zzz
Controls:
Cultural - zzz
Biological - zzz
Chemical - zzz Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant,
yourself, your pets or the environment.
Beetle, Whitefringed (Graphognathus
leucoloma)
TBD
Last edited: 11/24/98 02:19 AM
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