Hobbies And Interests
Aphids
Aphids, also known as plant lice, make up a large share of the Asian beetle's diet. Aphids are soft-body insects, meaning they do not have the hard exoskeletons that many other insects have. Aphids feed in large colonies whereby they suck the sap from plants and trees and even spread diseases in plants. This damages the vital plant tissue plants need for photosynthesis. Because Asian beetles prey upon aphids, they are a natural aphid deterrent. If aphids destroy farmers' crops, this can result in food shortages and higher food prices.
Mealybugs
Like aphids, mealybugs spread plant diseases and feed on the juices of plants and trees. Many mealybugs feed on citrus plants, making them a dangerous threat to crops such as oranges and grapes. Their predation upon mealybugs makes Asian beetles beneficial as a natural pest deterrent. Mealybugs occur all over the world, so anywhere there are Asian beetles mealybugs may also be present.
Spider Mites
Spider mite pesticides often become obsolete quickly because spider mites have the ability to adapt to them. Asian beetles are one of the few natural predators that can maintain dominance over spider mite populations. Asian beetles can often control populations of spider mites with more success than humans.
Fruit and Pollen
Asian beetles are omnivores. They will eat fruit if it's ripe. This means that despite their disposition to prey upon insects that damage fruit crops, they themselves may become pests to farmers. They will typically only feed on fruit that is ripe in the fall. Asian beetles will also eat pollen, making them an important component of plant reproduction. When the Asian beetle feasts on pollen, some of the pollen will stick to them, which will then pass on to other plants and flowers.