Depending on the soil temperature, eggs can take six weeks or less to hatch. The life cycle takes about 46 days in an alternative host, Planotortrix excessana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), at 22‡ C. Electron micrographs of merozoites and gametocytes are presented. The larvae are C shaped or curl grubs with a brown head and dark tail. Abstract It is suggested from a review of earlier studies and investigations in the Waikato since 1975 on the role of flight in infestation of pastures and maize by Heteronychus arator (F.) that in New Zealand the scarabaeid is probably close to the limits of its ecological temperature range. Heteronychus arator . Black beetle male and female. Here’s what you need to know… This beetle can affect the establishment of a range of horticultural crops, and both adult and larval stages can be pests. Successful biological control of this pest could be achieved using the non-occluded Oryctes virus. Black beetle larvae. Life-tables were constructed which quantified individual and generation mortalities and identified the key factors causing population change. Summary: The African black beetle is an introduced beetle that appears similar to cockchafers but generally occurs earlier in the year and is usually found on or under the soil. (1976). Relatively inactive during winter. life cycle (Todd 1959). Drinkwater TW, 1987. 373 0 obj <>stream African black beetle (Heteronychus arator) is the most significant pest of turf in South Australia. Black Beetle (Heteronychus arator) Information Sheet ... greater than 20°C suit the Black Beetle life cycle perfectly but they are severely inhibited at between 10-15°C. The scarab beetle grubs rather than the adult beetle cause most turf injury. [1], A small RNA virus with a divided genome from, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heteronychus_arator&oldid=990998894, Articles with dead external links from January 2020, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. African black beetle (Heteronychus arator), is native to southern Africa. Both adults and larvae attack pastures and cereals. It has a high temperature requirement for most life processes. In spring, the majority of mating . It is commonly called African black beetle or black lawn beetle. Their grubs are considered to be New Zealand's major pasture and lawn pest. Life Cycle: Eggs usually laid near food source for larva in summer. Although females deposit eggs singly in the soil (Cumpston 1940), rather than in clusters, considerable 1). So do we. African black beetle typically become active during spring time, feeding on leaves of the lawn and burrow just under the surface to lay their eggs. The efficacy of insecticides in the control of the black maize beetle, Heteronychus arator (Col.: Scarabpidae) in maize in South Africa. Phytophylactica, 19(3):275-277 0 Heteronychus arator (Fabricius, 1775) Common names African Black Beetle in English Bibliographic References. African Black Beetle heteronychus arator . Lawns and turf are notoriously impacted by pest attack, however, garden and potted plants are also significantly affected. All life stages of H. arator are subterranean but adults can fly (King et al. These scarab beetles spend their entire lifecycle belowground, with the exception of the adult stage (Matthiessen and Learmonth, 1998) (Fig. Life cycle %PDF-1.5 %���� The control of the black maize beetle, Heteronychus arator (Col.: Scarabpidae), in maize in South Africa. Kingdom Animalia animals. [3], This species may damage lawns and other turf, especially during the summer, as well as many crop plants, garden flowers,[4] trees and shrubs. Eggs are laid in October-November and hatch after 5–6 weeks. 1 of 4. Black beetles also attack cereal crops such as … Drinkwater TW, 1982. Information about Heteronychus arator diagnosis, including distribution and treatment advice Cookies on Plantwise Knowledge Bank Like most websites we use cookies. 378-386 Although it occurs virtually throughout S.A., there are certain areas in which it assumes plague proportions. We sometimes hear from people who have noticed them in their lawn and are concerned that they may be damaging their grass. endstream endobj 340 0 obj <. Black beetle, Heteronychus arator Burmeister, life-cycle (DSIR information series) Life Cycle. Life Cycle. Most of its life is spent under the soil surface, burrowing in and out of the soil, leaving pencil-sized holes. Adult beetles overwinter from June to September in free draining soils. Iohannesson (1975) and Watson (1979) round that the adult may be highly mobile under New Zealand conditions, dispersing by flight or surface movement in autumn and spring. The population dynamics of Heteronychus arator (F.) were studied in plots of paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum), ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and ryegrass with white clover, in New Zealand [see preceding abstract, next abstract]. In some areas 20 % of the population will over-winter as third stage larvae or as pupae, and the adults which develop from these stage lay Mature/adult beetles are shiny jet-black scarab beetle up to … Life Cycle: The black beetle produces only one generation a year, but the life stages overlap. is a polyphagous, univoltine pest of pasturelands, turf, and agricultural crops in Australia, New Zealand, and Africa.