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Subject

Darkling Ground Beetle

Description

On rare occasions, darkling ground beetles of the genus Blapstinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) damage young vines. The larvae live in the soil and are called false wireworms. They feed on the roots of grasses and occasionally damage truck crops; they do no damage to grapevine roots. They prefer to remain in the dry, upper 2 to 3 inches of soil and do not penetrate to the depth of the vine roots. Only in the adult stage do they damage the vine.

Darkling ground beetles reportedly damage young vines by feeding on wounds on the trunk occasionally made by cultivating tools. They may start to feed on fresh, succulent tissue exposed by a recent cut, or if a wound has started to heal, they will feed on callous tissue. In either case, they extend a wound slowly around the trunk and to a lesser extent up and down the trunk, eventually girdling the vine. Such girdles are often 5 to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 inches) wide.

In the southern San Joaquin Valley (west side and south of Arvin) these beetles have been known to defoliate and kill vines grown for propagation. Another ground beetle, possibly Eleodes spp., has been a problem in areas bordered by native rangeland.

Publications

Bentley W., and Phillips P. 1992. Darkling Ground Beetle. Page 242 in: Grape Pest Management, 2nd edition. University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 3343, Oakland, CA.

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