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Problem: Green June Beetle - Cotinis nitida
Hosts: Green June Beetle adults feed on
ripening fruits including apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums, prunes, apples, pears,
grapes, figs, blackberries, and raspberries. Larvae feed feed mainly on humus in the soil
but will feed on grass roots.
Description: These
large beetles look much like our common May Beetle (June Bug) but have a dull, velvety
green and tan coloration. The underside is more of an iridescent green. These beetles have
poor navigational skills and seem to fly until they hit something. They also give off a
buzzing sound that sounds somewhat like a bumble bee. Unfortunately, they are also about
the size of a bumblebee. Put the kamikaze attitude, the buzzing and the size together and
you have a beetle that many people just don't care for.
Recommendations: In large numbers, Green June Beetles can cause some damage to our crops. A number of general use insecticides can be used to discourage their feeding including Sevin and malathion. Sevin has a 2-day waiting period between spraying and harvest on sweet corn and a 3-day waiting period on peaches. However, there is a 7-day waiting period for Sevin on blackberries, therefore, malathion (1-day waiting period) may be a better choice.
References:
1. Turfgrass Insects of the United States and Canada, Comstock Publishing Associates, pg
138 - 144.
2. Kansas State University Horticulture '90 Newsletter, August 30, 1990.
Last Update: 07/06/2005
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