New Webinar: Asiatic Garden Beetle as an Emerging Pest of Corn

Dr. Kelley Tilmon, professor of entomology at The Ohio State University shared, “Asiatic Garden Beetle as an Emerging Pest of Corn” during the October Pests and Progress webinar.  

Asiatic Garden Beetle (AGB) is an interesting pest because it has been in the United States over 100 years and also has over 100 plant hosts, including weeds. Its larval, grub form has occasionally caused issues in turf grass and in some ornamentals.

However, Purdue Extension began noticing significant corn stand loss from AGB in 2006; Michigan State University noticed it in 2007; and The Ohio State University saw similar damage starting in 2012. Damage to corn is currently the most common type of crop damage, but soybeans, alfalfa, wheat and potato can also be affected. In corn, AGB can cause stunted plants, plant stand loss, financial loss from replanting and yield loss from late replanting. 

Now that the AGB has become a field crop pest, more research is needed to understand AGB biology and behavior.  Several sampling methods were trialed to help monitor AGB populations. The golf hole cup cutter method was most effective for monitoring AGB grub populations since they tend to burrow a bit deeper than other species. So far, pitfall traps seem to be the best option for monitoring adult populations.

Crop damage from AGB is most concentrated in areas with sandy soil. Also, in the states where AGB has been a problem, the grubs are moving toward the soil surface at about the same time that corn is being planted.

It is worth noting that insecticides are not a good tool for managing AGB. Most don’t work at all. The one organophosphate that does work is very effective… and very toxic. It is worth exploring biological options for management. Entomopathogenic nematodes were tried as a management option in greenhouse trials with some success.

Check out the rest of the video to learn how to distinguish AGB from other scarab beetles, how the grubs differ from other beetle larvae, what nematodes show promise as a biological control and why insecticides should be avoided as a management strategy. 

These AGB resources may also be useful: 

• Identification, Monitoring, & Management of Asiatic Garden Beetle in Field Crops
• Entomopathogenic Nematode Control for Asiatic Garden Beetle
• Pocket Field Guide to Asiatic Garden Beetle 

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