TechNotes Tips - Beetles Archive

Chinchbug damage to St. Augustinegrass is still evident in the southeastern U.S. Most of the damage that has occurred was caused three to four weeks ago. However, the damage is still apparent because the plants are slow to recover. Damaged areas will most likely need to be reestablished.

May/June beetles fly around at night in the Midwestern and mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. in May and June. This insect normally causes minor damage, however it can cause significant defoliation of oaks and maples in certain instances.

The Azalea leafminer deposits eggs on the underside of the leaf. This leafminer will roll the leaf around itself and continue to feed. The damage symptoms appear as brownish-tan leaves. The leafminer will eventually pupate and about one week later (in the southeastern U.S.) a moth will emerge. This pest is a cool-season pest.

Asian longhorn beetles, which infect trees in the New York City area, Chicago, and other areas, are a devastating pest. Control of this pest has centered around tree removal. However, during 2000, USDA researchers will be conducting field studies to see if soil- or tree- injected insecticides will stop the spread of the beetle.(source: Weekly NMPRO e-mail)

As of Sept. 1999, USDA was developing a lure for the Asian longhorn beetle, which had infested parts of New York and Illinois. An artificial pheromone attractant was being tested in China. It appeared that the attractant was equally effective on both males and females. The attractant will be important in monitoring infestations by this serious insect pest.

Japanese beetles adults can cause damage to certain ornamentals and tree species. Damage to ornamentals appear as a skeletonizing of the leaves. The adult does not cause damage to the turf. Thus treating for the adult for the purpose of reducing egg laying is a waste of time. Damage to the turf from the Japanese beetle will occur later in July when larvae hatch from the egg laying.

Japanese beetle adults are often observed in landscape areas. Although the adults can cause serious damage to certain landscape plants, they do not cause damage to turf. Thus treating for the adults to reduce grub populations later is not an effective control method. It is best to wait to treat for the grubs. Female Japanese beetles are often observed laying eggs into cool season turfs.

The locust leaf miner causes damage to black locust trees. Leaves turn reddish-brown during mid to late July from the adult feeding. Adults are elongated flat beetles with a black head, orange to yellow wing covers and a distinct black wedge shaped pattern down the back.