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Coleoptera
Heteronychus arator
What are Black Beetles?
The African Black Beetle (Heteronychus arator) is an introduced pest species. In NZ it’s mostly found in the upper North Island. Its larvae are often referred to as "grass grubs", although they're a completely different species to native grass grubs (Costelytra giveni) and bronze beetle larvae (Eucolaspis brunnea).
Adults
The adult beetles are glossy black, oval-shaped and 12-15mm long. On the underside of the body are light-brown bristle-like structures (setae). The head is short, broad and angles downwards. At the front of the head are chewing mouthparts. On either side of the head are a pair of compound eyes and short, golf-club-like antennae. Behind the head, on the upper side of the body, is a large trapezoid-shaped plate (pronotum) which is the front segment of the middle section of the body (thorax).
Attached to the underside of the thorax are 3 pairs of legs which are lightly covered in spines. The upper portion of the leg is slightly flattened while the lower leg is thinner and thread-like. However, in males, the lower portion of the front legs are also slightly flattened. At the tips of the legs are claws. The hindlegs are the largest pair which are used for digging.
Adults have 2 pairs of wings, the outermost wings are hardened forewings (elytra) and used to protect the delicate membranous hind-flight-wings. While at rest, forewings fold down over the flattened hindwings and meet in the centre of the body, forming a distinct straight line. At the top of this line is a small triangular-shaped plate known as the scutellum. Along the length of the forewings are straight, mostly parallel indented lines.
Larvae
The grub-like larvae have a creamy-white body with an orange-to-brown rounded head capsule and black jaws. The hind section of the body is generally swollen, baggy and grey-blue to green in colour due to the visible contents of the gut. The body is long, tubular, C-shaped and heavily segmented, growing up to 25mm long. At the front, along either side of the body, at each segment are a pair of orange-brown spots which are used for breathing (spiracles). On either side of the head are a pair of compound eyes and at the front of the head are chewing mouthparts. Antennae are small and generally inconspicuous. Attached to the underside and middle section of the body are 3 pairs of thin 5-segmented legs. Larvae are wingless.
Lifecycle
Normally, there is just one generation of African Black Beetle per year, however, depending on the environment it may take up to 2 years to complete the entire lifecycle.
Eggs
In spring, after mating the female adult lays eggs just underneath the surface of vegetation. Eggs are small (1.8 mm), round and cream-coloured. Females lay between 6 and 12 eggs individually, laying approximately 30 eggs in her lifetime.
Larvae
After 2–5 weeks, eggs hatch and grub-like larvae emerge. Larvae develop through 3 larval stages (instars) where they grow then shed their exoskeleton (a process known as moulting) at each stage. After hatching, the first instar is 5mm long. At the second instar larvae burrow into the soil. After developing into the third and final instar stage, fully mature larvae are typically 25 mm in length and ready to pupate. Larvae are generally active throughout most of spring and summer.
Pupae
In late summer to early autumn, mature larvae dig a chamber in the soil to create an ‘earthen cell’. Larvae ‘clear their guts’ of food and become a pale-yellow colour. As pupae develop, they become slightly darker and redder in colour and shorter (15 mm long) and more rounded in appearance. During the pupal stage, pupae do not feed, are mostly inactive and gradually transform into the adult form.
Adults
After pupating for approximately 2 weeks, adults emerge in late summer and autumn. Over winter, adults become less active and in cold conditions hibernate in the soil until emerging in spring where they are mature and ready for mating. Adults generally survive for 10 months, dying soon after reproducing in spring.
Behaviour & Habitat
At the first instar stage, larvae feed on decaying organic matter just above the soil surface. At the second and third instar stage larvae exclusively feed below ground on plant and grass roots and other below-ground parts of plants. Adults mostly feed on plant and grass shoots just above or below the soil surface (up to 15 cm deep).
Adults are slow walkers and crawl mostly during the breeding season. Flying mostly occurs at night – particularly in autumn, less often in spring - where they are especially drawn to and fly towards artificial lights.
Natural Enemies
Birds, Rats and Mice, Nematodes, and some Microorganisms.
Symptoms
Lawns:
- Wilted leaves - even after regular and deep watering.
- Straw-like leaves.
- Yellowing leaves.
- Severed shoots just above or below the surface of the soil often with a frayed or shredded edge appearance.
- Dead or dying patches.
- In patches of turf where roots have been chewed, turf is easily lifted from the soil surface, similar to rolling back a corner of carpet.
Plants:
- Wilting foliage and young stems - even after regular and deep watering.
- Stunted growth.
- Reduced plant health.
- Severed shoots just above or below the surface of the soil often with a frayed or shredded edge appearance.
- Flattened, toppled or partially uprooted plants.
- Ringbarking of stems at the base of plants.
- Seedling and young plants are easily lifted from the ground, having a poorly developed or chewed root system.
- Holes in tubers such as potatoes and kumara.
- After digging up plants, the root system may appear poorly developed or chewed.
- Dead plants.
Plants impacted
Lawn & Pasture
Most grass varieties are highly susceptible to pest attack, severely impacting lawns and pasture areas. Examples include:
• Kikuyu
• Fescues (Tall and Fine)
• Ryegrass
• Couch
Crops
Both potted plants and plants in the ground, especially young plants and seedlings are particularly vulnerable to pest attack. Edible plants including vegetables, herbs, tomatoes and fruiting vines may be impacted. Examples include:
• Carrot
• Corn & Maize
• Cauliflower
• Grapevines
• Kumara
• Potato
• Strawberry
• Tomato
Non-Crops
Non-edible (ornamental) plants may also be impacted. Examples include:
• Begonia
• Calendula
• Marigold
• Petunia
• Protea
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