2 (1 = rare 5 = annual)

4 (1 = very little damage 5 = plants killed)

Apples, strawberries, raspberries, watermelons, muskmelons, corn, tomatoes

Small Fruit

• Raspberry (Rubus ideaus and R. occidentalis)
• Strawberry (Fragaria spp.)

Tree Fruit

• Apple (Malus pumila)

Vegetable

• Sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. rugosa )
• Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

The sap beetles fly to ripening or damaged apples, strawberries, raspberries, watermelons, muskmelons, corn, tomatoes, etc. The beetles bore into the fruit and makes it unfit for human consumption. The picnic beetle tends to attack damaged and overripe or decomposing plant tissues. It attacks undamaged ear corn silks and ripe fruits. They tend to congregate in areas where fruit and vegetable materials are present.

At this time, very little is known about the picnic beetle life cycle.

Harvest the fruits as soon as they ripen, and remove any damaged or overripe fruits & vegetables from field or garden. Use of traps/baits with scents of overripe fruits, and discard the traps as soon as they are filled with the picnic beetles. Spray with insecticides (recommended in your state) but observe the pre-harvest interval.

Home, Yard & Garden Pest Guide
The Home, Yard & Garden Pest Guide (C1391) provides is written for homeowners and other residents and provides nonchemical and current chemical recommendations for controlling pests associated with trees, shrubs, turf, flowers, groundcovers, vegetables, fruit, and houses. In addition, you'll find detailed information about integrated pest management, pesticide safety, and pesticide application and calibration techniques. This publication may be purchased at your local University of Illinois Extension Unit office, or by calling 800-345-6087, or by placing an order online (search for "C1391").
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Illinois Commercial Landscape and Turfgrass Pest Management Handbook
The Illinois Commercial Landscape and Turfgrass Pest Management Handbook (ICLT) is written for professional applicators and provides nonchemical and current chemical recommendations as well as application timing information for all major pests of turf, woody ornamentals and herbaceous ornamentals. This publication may be purchased at your local University of Illinois Extension Unit office, or by calling 800-345-6087, or by placing an order online (search for "ICLT").
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U of IL - Distance Diagnosis through Digital Imaging
A free plant, weed, insect and disease identification service available through your local University of Illinois Extension office. Center Educators or State Specialists review & respond to information and digital images submitted by local Extension office personnel. Some samples may require further examination or culture work (nominal fee involved) at the U of IL Plant Clinic.
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U of IL - Plant Clinic
Services include plant and insect identification, diagnosis of disease, insect, weed and chemical injury (chemical injury on field crops only), nematode assays, and help with nutrient related problems, as well as recommendations involving these diagnoses. Microscopic examinations, laboratory culturing, virus assays, and nematode assays are some of the techniques used in the clinic.
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