This pest on fruit trees causes significant damage.

Release Date:

2019-06-10

The white-spotted flower beetle, also known as the white‑striped copper flower beetle, the white‑spotted flower borer, or the white‑spotted scarab, is a pest belonging to the family Rutelidae within the order Coleoptera. Adult beetles primarily damage ripe fruits such as apples, grapes, and pears, but they can also infest a variety of other crops, including corn, sunflowers, and vegetables, affecting plants from 14 families, 26 genera, and 29 species. It is a significant pest of fruit trees like grapevines, apple trees, and pear trees. Symptoms of Damage: Both adults and larvae of the white‑spotted flower beetle cause harm. Adults mainly attack fruits that emit odors of decay, fermentation, or sweetness, often chewing large holes in the fruit. When multiple beetles feed together, the damaged fruit is prone to infection by pathogenic bacteria, leading to rot.

The white-spotted flower beetle, also known as the white-striped copper flower beetle, white-spotted flower borer, or white-spotted scarab, is a pest belonging to the family Melolonthidae in the order Coleoptera; the adult stage… It primarily damages mature fruits such as apples, grapes, and pears, but can also infest a variety of crops including corn, sunflowers, and vegetables, affecting 14 species. It comprises 26 genera and 29 species, and is a major pest of fruit trees such as grapevines, apple trees, and pear trees.

Harmful symptoms

Both the adult and larval stages of the white-spotted flower beetle can cause damage; the adults primarily feed on fruits that emit a foul, alcoholic, sour, or sweet odor.

In fact, the fruit can be bitten through to form large holes; multiple pest species often congregate and feed together, and once damaged, the fruit is prone to infection by bacterial and other pathogenic microorganisms.

They rot and fall off, significantly affecting both the yield and fruit quality of fruit trees. The larvae primarily damage underground rhizomes, severing the roots.

It causes weakened plant growth and, in severe cases, may lead to plant death.

Characteristics of occurrence

The white-spotted flower beetle has one generation per year, with the 2nd–3rd instar larvae overwintering in soil among decaying organic matter or manure, feeding on underground roots or humus.

For feeding, in the following April to June, the larvae mature and pupate in the soil at a depth of 20 centimeters; approximately 20 days later, the pupae emerge as adults.

The peak period of adult insect damage occurs annually from June to July. Adults are attracted to sweet and decaying acetic odors, exhibit thanatosis, and drop to the ground when startled or…

They fly away; after mating, the adults lay their eggs in soil crevices. The egg stage lasts 10–12 days, after which the larvae (grubs) hatch and feed in the soil.

And overwinter.

Control and prevention methods

(1) Larval control: When fertilizing fruit trees, a 4% imidacloprid granular formulation can be mixed with organic fertilizer, which not only kills the white-spotted beetle…

The larvae of the flower beetle (grub) can also control aphids and psyllids on fruit trees, with a long residual effect and excellent efficacy.

(2) Trapping and killing adult beetles: The peak period of damage caused by the white-spotted flower beetle also coincides with the watermelon marketing season. The white-spotted flower beetle is attracted to fully ripe watermelons.

It exhibits strong positive phototaxis; you can cut watermelon rinds into several pieces, add trichlorfon, and hang them on fruit trees to lure and kill the pests. Collect them every morning.

Adults once. Replace the watermelon rind every 2–3 days. Low cost, simple to implement, and highly effective.

Source: China Pesticide Network

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