Grapevine beetle, alternately called the spotted pelidnota or spotted June beetle, belongs to the scarab beetles family. These beetles mainly feed on grapevine leaves and fruits, as evident from their name, but do not damage them immensely.
Size: 25 – 30 mm (0.98 – 1.18 inches)
Color: They have a unique coloration. The grapevine beetle’s pattern varies from off-yellow to auburn red, alongcol3 four black spots on each col3. The edges of their elytra are distinguished prominently by fine black lines.
Other Characteristic Features: The grapevine beetle has two variations, the southern and northern, each varying from the other in some aspects. The north species have darker legs with more spots that appear deep in terms of coloration. The southern species have lighter legs with lesser or no spots at all.
Becol3s this, in some grapevine beetle species, the color of their legs and elytra match. On the other hand, in a few, the legs are of similar coloration to the lower part of their body.
The c-shaped larvae have a pale appearance, hatching from the eggs in two weeks from being laid. They are white at the onset, with the head changing to dark brown as they mature. The average length to which a larva grows is about 50.8 mm (2 inches). They mostly remain in the soil feeding on rotten wood.
The pupation phase takes place underground incol3 pupal chambers constructed by the larvae underground. They appear white in the beginning, initially changing to brown, growing to 2.2 cm.
The oval-shaped eggs are white and elongated, 2mm in length and 1.5 mm in width. They are laid in tree stumps, rotten wood, or even soil adjacent to their host plant.
| Other Names | Spotted grapevine beetle, spotted pelidnota, spotted June beetle |
| Adult lifespan | About 30 days |
| Duration of larval stage | 3 – 5 days |
| Distribution | Eastern North America, from Ontario up to Maine; and also in parts of Florida, Texas, and South Dakota |
| Habitat | Forests, woods, thickets, vineyards, gardens |
| Common Predators | Raccoon, blue jay, pallid bat |
| Seasons active from | July – September |
| Host Plants | Grapevines |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Rotten wood Adults: Leaves and fruits of host plants |
The adults consume the fruits and leaves of grapevines. They sometimes skeletonizing the foliage by chewing holes into them. However, they are not spotted in large numbers, so it is rarely possible for them to cause damage on a vast scale.
Moreover, they are also not concol3red poisonous since they don’t bite and do no harm to humans if touched or handled.
Of the several measures to get rid of the beetles, the commonest one includes spraying insecticides.
Image Source: cdn.whatsthatbug.com, cirrusimage.com, instagram.fiev22-1.fna.fbcdn.net, sciencesource.com, i.pinimg.com, lh3.googleusercontent.com, live.staticflickr.com
Grapevine beetle, alternately called the spotted pelidnota or spotted June beetle, belongs to the scarab beetles family. These beetles mainly feed on grapevine leaves and fruits, as evident from their name, but do not damage them immensely.
Size: 25 – 30 mm (0.98 – 1.18 inches)
Color: They have a unique coloration. The grapevine beetle’s pattern varies from off-yellow to auburn red, alongcol3 four black spots on each col3. The edges of their elytra are distinguished prominently by fine black lines.
Other Characteristic Features: The grapevine beetle has two variations, the southern and northern, each varying from the other in some aspects. The north species have darker legs with more spots that appear deep in terms of coloration. The southern species have lighter legs with lesser or no spots at all.
Becol3s this, in some grapevine beetle species, the color of their legs and elytra match. On the other hand, in a few, the legs are of similar coloration to the lower part of their body.
The c-shaped larvae have a pale appearance, hatching from the eggs in two weeks from being laid. They are white at the onset, with the head changing to dark brown as they mature. The average length to which a larva grows is about 50.8 mm (2 inches). They mostly remain in the soil feeding on rotten wood.
The pupation phase takes place underground incol3 pupal chambers constructed by the larvae underground. They appear white in the beginning, initially changing to brown, growing to 2.2 cm.
The oval-shaped eggs are white and elongated, 2mm in length and 1.5 mm in width. They are laid in tree stumps, rotten wood, or even soil adjacent to their host plant.
| Other Names | Spotted grapevine beetle, spotted pelidnota, spotted June beetle |
| Adult lifespan | About 30 days |
| Duration of larval stage | 3 – 5 days |
| Distribution | Eastern North America, from Ontario up to Maine; and also in parts of Florida, Texas, and South Dakota |
| Habitat | Forests, woods, thickets, vineyards, gardens |
| Common Predators | Raccoon, blue jay, pallid bat |
| Seasons active from | July – September |
| Host Plants | Grapevines |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Rotten wood Adults: Leaves and fruits of host plants |
The adults consume the fruits and leaves of grapevines. They sometimes skeletonizing the foliage by chewing holes into them. However, they are not spotted in large numbers, so it is rarely possible for them to cause damage on a vast scale.
Moreover, they are also not concol3red poisonous since they don’t bite and do no harm to humans if touched or handled.
Of the several measures to get rid of the beetles, the commonest one includes spraying insecticides.
Image Source: cdn.whatsthatbug.com, cirrusimage.com, instagram.fiev22-1.fna.fbcdn.net, sciencesource.com, i.pinimg.com, lh3.googleusercontent.com, live.staticflickr.com
