Pest Photo

Mike Reding and Betsy Anderson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org

Asiatic garden beetle

Maladera castanea

Asiatic garden beetle (Maladera castanea) is an insect pest of various plant roots. It is a native of Asia and was first detected in New Jersey in 1922.

Females lay eggs in clusters in the soil beginning in July. Grubs can be found under weedy turf, or in fields of sweetpotato, beans, and other field crops. Developing grubs eat roots, causing serious damage and yield loss.