Biology, ecology, and management of the sugarcane beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in sweetpotato and corn

Abstract

The sugarcane beetle, Euetheola humilis (Burmeister), is a significant pest of sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.), and corn, Zea mays L., but can also be problematic in turf, rice, Oryza sativa L., and sugarcane, Saccharum spp. hybrids, in the southeastern United States. The adult is the damaging stage in all crop production systems. Injury to sweetpotato occurs during the fall prior to harvest, whereas injury to field crops occurs in the spring. Adult beetles chew jagged lesions in the sweetpotato roots, which drastically affects marketability of the crop. Injury in corn often results in stand losses and yield reductions.We discuss the life history, ecology, plant injury, and management of the sugarcane beetle as it relates to sweetpotato and field corn production in the southeastern United States.