Sugarbeets XX-11

Blister Beetles

Gary L. Hein

Blister beetle adult

Several species of blister beetles will feed on sugarbeet. Four of the most common blister beetles found to feed on sugarbeet are the black, ash-gray, spotted and the striped. Economic infestations of these insects are rare, but isolated infestations may occur in years with high grasshopper populations.

Identification (life cycle and seasonal history)

Blister beetles are soft-bodied insects with a slender cylindrical shape. They range in length from about 1/3 to 3/4 inch. Blister beetle larvae are predacious on grasshopper eggs and are therefore beneficial. In years when grasshopper populations are high, blister beetle adult populations also will be high.

Plant Damage and Response

Blister beetles often feed in large aggregations that can result in rapid defoliation of the host plants in spots in a field. Total leaf defoliation can occur, leaving only the midribs of the plants; however, these infestations are generally limited to small patches.

Management Approaches

Scouting of sugarbeet fields and insecticide treatments of damaging populations is necessary to manage this occasional pest. No insecticides are labeled for blister beetle control in sugarbeet; however, a product labeled for blister beetle control on other crops and labeled for use on sugarbeet should provide good control (e.g. carbaryl).

Categories: Insects, Sugarbeets, Blister Beetles

Date: 04/19/2006