Hobbies And Interests
Blister Beetles
Blister beetles have wide heads with long abdomens and very slender necks. Adults are about an inch long. Marginated blister beetles are common in Georgia and are typically solid black, though some are gray. They eat a variety of crops including tomatoes, cotton and potatoes. Though they are considered pests by Georgia farmers, they also fill a beneficial role in the ecosystem by eating grasshopper eggs and preventing grasshopper infestation. These beetles swarm in large groups to eat vegetation.
Cereal Leaf Beetle
Cereal leaf beetles are small, measuring a quarter to a half inch long. Their bodies are shiny black, with brown legs and a brown area behind their heads. They are considered pests in Georgia and eat a variety of cereal grains, including millet, rice, corn and wheat. Their larvae are yellow with a brown or black fecal coating and cause more damage to crops than adults. A single cereal leaf larva can easily devour an entire young plant.
Southern Pine Beetle
The southern pine beetle is one of the most destructive beetles in Georgia, feeding exclusively on pine trees. They are tiny, measuring less than a quarter of an inch in length, with wide wings and black or brown bodies. These beetles attack tree trunks and an infestation can kill thousands of pine trees. In addition to feeding on trees, they also infest trees with a fungus that prevents water from flowing into the tree.
Ambrosia Beetle
The ambrosia beetle is an invasive species in Georgia, commonly referred to as the Asian beetle or redbay ambrosia beetle. Like the southern pine beetle, adults are small, less than a quarter inch in length. They have wide black bodies with short yellow or brown legs. Unlike other species of ambrosia beetles, the Asian beetle's body is shiny with little or no hair. They spread the fungus laurel wilt to trees as diverse as maples, bay laurels, red bays and sweet gums.