African Black Beetle

  • Scientific Name: Heteronychus arator

African Black Beetle

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Heteronychus arator

ORDER:

Coleoptera

How to identify African Black Beetles:

The presence of African Black Beetles can be identified by their larvae or mature / adult beetles:

  • Larvae of African Black Beetles are a white to creamy-white, soft bodied curl grub up to 25mm long. The larvae have three sets of legs with a hard, light brown head capsule.

  • Adult African Black Bettles are a shiny jet-black scarab beetle up to 15mm long with serrated front legs.

What is the Biology and Lifecycle of African Black Beetles?

The female African Black Beetles can lay up to 80 eggs that hatch in 2-5 weeks, depending on temperature the larvae develop through 3 stages. The first instar feeds on decaying organic matter, and as they grow they begin feeding on plant roots. The fully grown larvae (3rd instar) are about 25mm long, creamy white in colour, curled up with 3 pairs of legs. When the larvae are fully grown they build an oval chamber, empty the hind gut and become a pre-pupae. After about a week the pre-pupae develop into pupae. The pupae develop into adult beetles after 1-3 months and emerge after rain or irrigation.

Damage Caused by African Black Beetle

Damage to turf occurs as African Black Beetle larva feed on the root system of the turf plant. This compromises the plants ability to access water, and results in drought-like symptoms in irregular patterns. As damage worsens large patches of turf can lose root functionality, allowing them to be peeled back off the soil to expose large populations of larvae underneath.

The level of damage to turf affected by African Black Beetles will vary depending on a number of factors:

  • Weather patterns affect the number of African Black Beetle and can affect the potential for turf damage. After 2 successive dry Spring and Summer periods, the number of Black Beetles can reach plague proportions in the second year.
  • During plague seasons on warm, humid nights in Spring the beetles emerge and swarm to find new feeding and breeding sites. At these times green succulent intensively maintained turf is attractive to beetles as they search for lush food. The beetles are sometimes attracted to lights.

Management Tips for African Black Beetle

To manage or control turf damage from African Black Beetle, it is important to ensure infested areas of turf do not suffer from moisture stress as this will exacerbate the symptoms of damage cause by larvae feeding.

PRODUCT SOLUTIONS FOR African Black Beetle

Quali-Pro Twister Insecticide
Active: 320g/L Indoxacarb, 80g/L Novaluron

Quali-Pro Twister is a highly effective insecticide for robust knockdown and residual control of Argentine Stem Weevil, Billbug and African Black B...

Contact us to purchase this item:
Acelepryn GR (Granule) Insecticide
Active: 2g/kg Chlorantraniliprole

Acelepryn GR insecticide provides unmatched, season-long grub and caterpillar control in a single application.

Pack: 4kg
10kg
QTY:
- +
Contact us to purchase this item:
Acelepryn Insecticide
Active: 200g/L Chlorantraniliprole

Acelepryn is an insecticide that provides safe and effective control of a wide range of turf-damaging insects while also minimising the impact on t...

Pack:
QTY:
- +
$140.80
Spinner Insecticide
Active: 200g/kg Cyantraniliprole, 200g/kg...

Spinner turf insecticide is a highly systemic insecticide providing rapid control of insect larvae and including Stem Weevil.

Contact us to purchase this item:
Initiator Systemic Plant Insecticide
Active: 200 g/kg Imidacloprid

Initiator Systemic Plant Insecticide plus Fertiliser from Bayer. Initiator tablets provide enhanced growth and long-lasting protection against the ...

Contact us to purchase this item:
Tempo XTRA Insecticide
Active: 50g/L Imidacloprid, 25g/L Beta-cyfluthrin

Tempo XTRA is a unique dual mode of action insecticide designed to control tough pests in Turf and Ornamental situations.

Contact us to purchase this item:
Tetrino Turf Insecticide
Active: 42.8g/l Tetraniliprole

Tetrino Turf Insecticide controls insect pets in turf including on golf courses, sports fields, bowling greens, race tracks, recreational lawns and...

Contact us to purchase this item:
Columbus Insecticide
Active: 250g/L Thiamethoxam

Columbus is an excellent translaminar and systemic insecticide. Columbus insecticide has contact, stomach and systemic activity, for the effective ...

Pack:
QTY:
- +
$93.50
Meridian Insecticide
Active: 250g/kg Thiamethoxam

Meridian insecticide is a water dispersible granule that provides effective control on a wide variety of insects and grubs, killing through both co...

Pack:
QTY:
- +
$124.30
Pride Insecticide
Active: 200g/L Imidacloprid

Pride insecticide contains the active constituent of 200g/L Imidacloprid. Pride’s systemic action provides control of a range of insect pests in ...

Pack:
QTY:
- +
$192.50
Taser Pro 800 WP Insecticide
Active: 800g/kg Bendiocarb

TaserPRO 800 WP is a residual broad spectrum non-repellent spray for the control of black beetle and earthworms in various turf situations as direc...

Pack:
QTY:
- +
$137.50
Compel Pro Insecticide
Active: 100g/L Bifenthrin

Compel Pro is a unique water-based formulation containing 100g/L of the active ingredient bifenthrin. Compel Pro is formulated for the co...

Pack:
QTY:
- +
$302.50
Merit Turf and Ornamental Insecticide

For the control of first instar larvae of African black beetle, Argentinian scarab and pruinose scarab and the control of billbug larvae in turf si...

Contact us to purchase this item:
Nutri Gro Plus

A combination product containing natural insecticides and organic fertiliser for the control of lawn armyworm and African black beetle in turf.

Contact us to purchase this item:
australian agribusiness

Nuturf is a division of Australian Agribusiness (Holdings) Pty Ltd ABN 61 135 355 958

 

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image