Carrion beetles

Affected crops: The primary target for these pests is sugar beet, fodder beet, and table beet. In cases of high population density, they may also inflict damage on other vegetable crops and seedlings in early growth stages, leading to economic losses for farmers.

Biology and life cycle: The pests overwinter as adults in the soil or under plant debris. Emergence occurs in early spring. Females lay eggs in the soil, and after hatching, the larvae undergo three larval stages before pupating underground. The entire cycle is temperature-dependent and synchronized with the germination of host crops.

Damage and economic impact: Adults and larvae feed on the leaf margins, often leaving only the main veins intact. Severe infestations lead to the total destruction of cotyledons or young leaves, causing stunted growth or the complete death of the plant, which often results in yield reduction.

Protection measures: Management of these pests relies on a combination of cultural and chemical strategies:

• Implementing rigorous crop rotation to break the pest cycle.
• Performing deep plowing in autumn to disturb overwintering sites.
• Applying systemic seed treatments to protect young sprouts from early feeding.
• Using foliar insecticides when the threshold of infestation is exceeded to prevent mass damage.