Acorn-pest
Guides
Stelidota octomaculata
Stelidota octomaculata is a small sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae, endemic to North America. Adults overwinter in forest litter and feed primarily on acorns, particularly damaged or germinating ones, beginning in March. Reproduction occurs in spring and early summer inside acorns both above and below ground. The species has been described as a chemical 'generalist' but behavioral 'specialist' compared to its congener S. geminata, showing reduced locomotion rates and different host-finding strategies. Laboratory studies indicate a life cycle of approximately 34 days at 22-26°C, with females producing up to 933 offspring.