Eucalypt Pests |
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Spring Beetles |
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Liparetrus spp.
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Spring beetle (Liparetrus spp.)
© Agriculture Western Australia
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Description
The beetles are small scarab or cockchafer beetles, about 5 mm long. They may be bronze and brown, or orange and dark blue.
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Life cycle
Eggs are laid into pasture paddocks, and hatch in autumn. The larvae are typical cockchafer curlgrubs that feed throughout winter on soil organic matter and plant roots. In spring they pupate in the soil, to emerge as adults. They can form large swarms, usually on calm sunny mornings after rain, and fly to trees where the different species feed either on foliage or flowers. |
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Damage
Many eucalypt species are attacked by the beetles in wheatbelt and southern areas, and serious defoliation may result. Larger trees may be pruned into rounded shapes, and smaller trees may be stripped completely of leaves. Death of young trees may occur, especially if they are droughted, or water-logged, and cannot grow new foliage. Seedling trees in rows along paddock boundaries can be highly vulnerable, as beetles from adjacent paddocks congregate on them. Some species of spring beetles feed on flowers of many native plants, and can cause damage to blossoms wanted for the flower trade. |
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Control
Spring beetle adults are very mobile, and repeated invasions make insecticidal control difficult. Repeated sprays may be necessary, dictated by beetle activity. Under constant invasion, defoliation of sprayed trees can occur because the beetles have to feed before they are killed by insecticide on the leaves. Trees less than two years old are most at risk. It may be advisable to plant trees other than eucalypts, if spring beetle attack is regular. |
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