Carrot Beetle – Ligyrus gibbosus

Carrot Beetle (Ligyrus gibbosus) Common Name: Carrot Beetle Latin Name: Ligyrus gibbosus Appearance: Eggs: This same hue of eggs is white. In the dirt in the early spring. Larva/nymphs: The colour is whitish-blue with a brown head—grub with a C-shape. A little knob should be placed at the leading edge of the circular, cup-like depression behind its head. Adults: Reddish-brown or black. Hard exoskeleton with small holes forming lines down the back Host plant: Sunflower, dahlia, corn, potato, beet, carrot iris, and lily Territory: North America reaches from southern Canada to Mexico. Ligyrus gibbosus is found across North America, from the Pacific to the Atlantic coastlines. Damages caused by Carrot Beetle: The main food sources for larvae are grass and weeds, although they can occasionally eat crop roots. Adults consume food above and below the soil’s surface, sporadically harming plants’ roots, stems, and leaves. Foliage yellowing, withering, stunting, and mortality from root-feeding are some symptoms. Life history and habits: At the base of a host plant, eggs are laid in deep soil 12.7–15.2 cm (5.0–6.0 in). The best plants grow in organically rich soils. In Kansas, eggs were laid from May to July, and larvae appeared on average ten days later. On average, the larval stage lasts 52 days. An average of 7 and 19 days separate the pre-pupal and pupal stages. There may be more than one generation per season because adults are most active in May through June and then again in August. Adults spend the daytime in the soil, where they are nocturnal. To avoid freezing, adults that overwinter burrow into the ground.