If you have ever seen a small, black and white beetle scurrying around your garden, you may have had an Asiatic Garden Beetle. This beetle is native to Asia but has become a serious pest in North America, particularly in the northeastern United States. The Asiatic Garden Beetle is a destructive pest of both ornamental and edible plants. It is particularly fond of roses, raspberries, grapes, and corn.
However, what are these Asiatic garden beetle? Are they as harmful as the Japanese beetle varieties?
Well, let’s find out!
Table of Contents
What is the Asiatic garden beetle?
The Asiatic garden beetle is a pest that can be found in the northeastern United States. They were first discovered in Florida, and it was not unexpected.
They are about 1/2 inch long and have a black body with a metallic green sheen. These beetles feed on a variety of plants, including flowers, vegetables, and fruits, which can damage them.
Thereby, it is essential to be aware of the beetle and take steps to prevent any damage.
Basics of Asiatic garden beetle
Physical appearance
The Asiatic garden beetle is a small, velvety, cinnamon-brown beetle that can be found throughout the United States. They are typically about 1/4 inch long and have a characteristic flattened shape.
let’s discover the identification of different stages of the beetles’ lifespan:
Adult
Adult Asiatic garden beetles have a cinnamon brown or copper coloration with a velvety appearance.
Short yellow hairs are seen in an irregular pattern on the undersides of their thorax. They range from 8 to 11 mm (0.31- 0.433) long and can be distinguished by their flattened bodies.
The adult Asiatic garden beetle is often found in gardens and can cause significant damage to plants.
Larva
The larvae of the Asiatic garden beetle are white and C-shaped, growing up to 7 mm long. These critters are easy to identify due to the series of curved spines on their undersides. These spines help them cling onto plants as they feed.
Pupa
Pupation occurs between May and June, with the pupa initially white and progressively becoming tan by the final larval stage. They range in length from 7.93 to 9.5 mm (0.31 to 0.37 inches). The pupal stage lasts between 8 and 15 days.
Egg
Female members of the species deposit around 60 eggs every week in clusters of 3 to 15. They are oval at first but become spherical after being absorbed in water.
Habitat
The Asiatic garden beetle can be found living in fields, deciduous forest areas, and pretty much any other habitat where their host plant is present. These critters are opportunistic feeders and will consume a variety of items such as pollen, nectar, aphids, and other small insects.
If we specifically discuss the habitats of these beetles at different stages of life, then the larvae are commonly found in moist, loamy, and sandy soil, where they feed on the roots of plants.
The adults, on the other hand, can be found near gardens and other outdoor areas where they feed on the leaves of plants.
Life cycle
The Asiatic garden beetle has a complete life cycle with four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Adults are attracted to lights and fly actively when temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).
The life cycle of the Asiatic garden beetle begins in the late spring or early summer and includes a span of about one year.
It begins with the females’ depositing eggs in small clusters, over several weeks, during summer temperatures. The larvae hatch and feed on the roots of plants as well as decomposing organic material.
After growing and molting a few times, they migrate down 8-17 inches before overwintering as second instars. In the following spring, they pupate and emerge as adults later in the year.
Following that, the adult beetles then lay eggs, and the process starts anew.
Food
Asiatic garden beetles are a common sight in gardens across the United States. And though they feed on a variety of plants, the damage is prominently visible on the margins of leaves.
That said, the favorite plants of these beetles include peaches, carrots, strawberries, cherries, beets, eggplants, turnips, and sweet potatoes.
Are the Asiatic garden beetle and Japanese beetle the same?
The Asiatic garden beetle and Japanese beetle are two of the most common types of garden beetles. They are both Scarab beetles, which means they feed on plant matter. While they share some similarities, there are two main differences between it and the Japanese beetle.
First, the Asiatic Beetle feeds at night while the Japanese BBeetlefeeds during the daytime. Second, the Asiatic Garden Beetle lives in the soil while the Japanese Beetle lives in trees.
Insecticides can be applied to address either beetle, but it is important to identify which one is causing damage before taking action.
Are Asiatic garden beetles Harmful?
Although Asian garden beetles are not dangerous to people, they can be a nuisance when they infest the tranquil beauty of your garden.
In fact, these beetles are popularly recognized for the significant damage to plants. They feed on the leaves of the foliage of plants, causing severe damage in the process.
The Asiatic garden beetles also lay their eggs in the soil, and the larvae eventually thrive on the roots of the plants. This can cause significant damage to lawns and gardens.
Therefore, if you have an Asiatic garden beetle infestation, it is important to take steps to get rid of them.
Do garden beetles bite?
While Asiatic garden beetles have strong mandibles or insect teeth for chewing plants, their teeth are too weak to penetrate through the skin and so do not bite humans.
Identifying the damage Caused by the Asiatic garden beetle
The Asiatic garden beetle is a small, black beetle that feeds primarily on foliage at night. It can cause significant damage to gardens and plants, feeding on leaves and reducing them to bits.
The Adult members of this beetle family eat at night, stripping and shedding their target plant’s leaves to pieces, leaving just the midrib in the event of intense feeding.
The larva, on the other hand, has a more dispersed diet since it eats at different depths. It does cause grass and root damage, albeit to a lower extent than adults.
Therefore, you may look for these signs to Identify the Damage Caused by the Asiatic garden beetle.
What smells keep Asiatic garden beetle away?
The Asiatic garden beetle is a type of beetle that is found in gardens and greenhouses. These beetles are attracted to smells and use their antennae to pick up scents that attract them to their mates and various plants.
However, this olfactory sense of attraction can also be used to deter these pests from creating a nuisance.
In fact, there are a variety of smells that can be used to keep these beetles away, including neem oil smell, citrus smells, lavender smells, gaultheria oil, teaberry oil, and chives, garlic, and peppermint smell.
Conventional Methods of Asiatic garden beetles control and prevention
Prevention is the ideal strategy to deal with any potential Asiatic garden beetle infestation.
In fact, I have enlisted some conventional methods that can be used to control Asiatic garden beetles, including:
Handpicking Asiatic Garden Beetles
There are two ways to get rid of beetles in your garden: handpicking and tilling.
Handpicking is the process of removing beetles by hand from the plants and soil. The best time to handpick Asiatic garden beetles is at night when they are most active.
Carefully search the plants for larvae, eggs, and adults and remove them by hand. Use gloves to protect your hands and use a bucket or bag to collect the insects.
In addition, another way to get rid of Asiatic garden beetles is Tilling or turning over the soil, which destroys the bBeetle’seggs and larvae.
Uproot weeds that Give Shelter to Beetles
Weed control is one method of controlling the Asiatic Garden Beetle. By removing the weeds that provide shelter for the beetles, we can limit their population and ultimately reduce damage to our gardens.
Hang beetle traps
An effective way to eliminate beetles without using pesticides or harsh chemicals is to hang beetle traps in your garden. These traps use a pheromone that attracts the beetles and then traps them.
Additionally, you can also try using natural predators, such as birds or spiders to help control the beetle population.
Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring sedimentary rock that is made up of the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of algae.
The rock is ground into a fine powder and has many uses, including as an insecticide. It works by puncturing the exoskeleton of insects, causing them to dehydrate and die.
DE is safe for use around kids, pets, and wildlife and can be used to get rid of Asiatic garden beetles.
Apply Insecticides
You can use either chemical or organic insecticides to eliminate the Asiatic garden beetle.
However, it is advised to keep the pets and children away from the chemicals applied. Furthermore, reading the instruction properly ensures safe and effective usage.
Employ a pest control professional
When pests like the Asiatic garden beetle invade your home, it is important to take swift and decisive action. One method is to employ a pest control specialist who can remove the infestation while protecting your loved ones and pets.
They will have the knowledge and tools necessary to get rid of the beetles quickly and safely. Trying to deal with the problem yourself can be difficult and dangerous.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Asiatic garden beetles are common garden pests widely recognized for damaging gardens and plants. However, they can be controlled using any of the above-mentioned techniques.
Furthermore, in the diverse situations of heavy infestation employing professional help is recommended.
