Asiatic garden beetle

Definition

A species of scarab beetle (family Scarabaeidae), *Maladera formosae* (formerly *Maladera castanea*), native to East Asia and introduced to North America in the 1920s. Adults are nocturnal, strongly attracted to light, and feed on leaves and flowers of turf grasses, garden plants, and crops; larvae (white grubs) feed on roots. The species is considered a significant agricultural and horticultural pest in its introduced range.

Etymology

From 'Asiatic' (Asian origin) + 'garden' (habitat association) + 'beetle'

Example

Asiatic garden beetles often aggregate at porch lights in July and August, and their skeletonized leaf damage on roses and grapes can be distinguished from Japanese beetle feeding by the lack of a preference for leaf tissue between veins.

Synonyms

• Maladera formosae
• Maladera castanea (obsolete)

Related Terms

• Scarabaeidae
• white grub
• Japanese beetle
• Oriental beetle
• exotic pest
• turf pest
• nocturnal feeding

Usage Notes

Formerly placed in genus *Maladera* as *M. castanea*; the accepted scientific name is now *Maladera formosae*. Not to be confused with the Oriental beetle (*Exomala orientalis*), another introduced scarab pest with overlapping range and similar habits. Adults are strictly nocturnal, unlike the diurnal Japanese beetle, making light-trap monitoring effective.