Sugarcane Beetles

Identification

• Black beetle

• Hard, dome-shaped shell

• About 13mm in length

Environment

• Sugarcane beetles hibernate during winter months in soil

• Most commonly seen in early warm months, March and April

Threats

• Sugarcane beetles are most prevalent in Southern states

• Feed on corn, rice, sugarcane, cotton, and strawberry crops

• Cause crop damage by chewing on the plants’ outer walls beneath the soil

Treatment

• Call a pest control professional