Reference · Pests

Beetles

81 sections — choose below or search on the left.

Main sections

Weevils1620 Leaf beetles730 Longhorn beetles695 Ground beetle332 Lady beetle (pest species)308 Click beetles170 Jewel beetles160 Auger beetles108 Dryophthorid weevils92 Bean weevils87 Predaceous diving beetles86 Blister beetles82 Leaf-rolling weevils79 Apionidae58 Dermestid beetles57 Death-watch beetles51 Checkered beetles35 Brachyceridae21 Minute brown scavenger beetles21 Powderpost beetles20

81 sections

Sorting

Bean weevils 87 items Dermestid beetles 57 items Calopus Calopus Calopus serraticornis Calopus serraticornis Death-watch beetles 51 item Ant-like flower beetles 11 items Fungus weevils 14 items Apionidae 58 items Leaf-rolling weevils 79 items Belidae 3 items Auger beetles 108 items Bothriderid beetles 2 items Brachyceridae 21 item Primitive weevils 8 items Jewel beetles 160 items Pill beetles 2 items Raspberry beetles 6 items Soldier beetles 19 items Ground beetle 332 items Cebrionid beetles 2 items Longhorn beetles 695 items Leaf beetles 730 items Ciidae 14 items Checkered beetles 35 items Lady beetle (pest species) 308 items Cylindrical bark beetles 5 items Silken fungus beetles 12 items Flat grain beetles 19 items Weevils 1 620 items Soft-bodied plant beetles 2 items Tooth-necked fungus beetles 3 items Drilid beetles 2 items Dryophthorid weevils 92 items Predaceous diving beetles 86 items Click beetles 170 items Endecatomidae 2 items Handsome fungus beetles 4 items Pleasing fungus beetles 12 items Earth-boring dung beetles 10 items Glaphyridae 2 items Whirligig beetles 10 items Crawling water beetles 8 items Variegated mud-loving beetles 2 items Hister beetles 10 items Water scavenger beetles 18 items Squeak beetles 3 items Ithyceridae 2 items Kateretidae beetles 5 items Fireflies 12 items Minute brown scavenger beetles 21 item Stag beetles 10 items Net-winged beetles 3 items Powderpost beetles 20 items Ship-timber beetles 11 items False darkling beetles 5 items Blister beetles 82 items Soft-winged flower beetles 17 items Monotomidae 3 items Leaf miners (Odontota) 8 items Hairy fungus beetles 7 items

Beetles

The order Coleoptera, commonly known as beetles, constitutes the largest group of insects, containing numerous species that are major agricultural pests. Key families involved in crop damage include Curculionidae (weevils), Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles), Elateridae (click beetles), and Scarabaeidae (scarabs). Their evolutionary success is attributed to their hardened forewings, known as elytra, which protect the body and wings.

Beetles attack a vast array of crops, ranging from cereals and root vegetables to fruit trees and ornamental plants. Depending on the species, they may feed on roots, stems, foliage, flowers, or developing seeds. Many species are highly host-specific, while others, such as wireworms or certain types of leaf beetles, are polyphagous and capable of causing widespread damage across different crop types.

The biological cycle of beetles involves complete metamorphosis consisting of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larval stage is usually the most destructive period, during which the insect focuses entirely on growth and feeding. Depending on the species, the life cycle can span from a few months to several years, with many species overwintering as larvae or adults in the soil or crop debris.

Damage patterns vary significantly. Foliage feeders strip leaves, leading to reduced photosynthetic capacity and stunted growth. Root feeders destroy the root system, causing plant wilting and death, especially in seedlings. Furthermore, beetles can serve as vectors for various plant pathogens, introducing viruses and bacteria into healthy tissues during the feeding process, which can lead to significant yield losses.

Effective management requires an integrated approach. Cultural practices such as crop rotation, strategic tillage, and the removal of plant residues are essential to break life cycles. Biological control using predators, parasitoids, or microbial pathogens is increasingly important. When damage thresholds are exceeded, chemical control using targeted insecticides is applied, with a strong focus on timing and environmental safety.

Results

Beetles