Glischrochilus quadrisignatus
Coleoptera: Nitidulidae
Identification
• The adult picnic beetle is black with four yellow irregular spots,
and about 3/16" long. (a)
Damage
• Beetles feed on the ripening fruits of strawberry.
• Beetles feed on overripe and damaged fruits and vegetables including
sweet corn ears and the fruit of tomato, apricot, and peach. (b)
• Beetles tunnel through fruit, leaving feces, and subsequent bacterial
and fungal infections.
Management
• Harvest ripening fruit promptly and remove damaged or rotting fruit
that attracts these beetles.
• Avoid peeking into ripening sweet corn ears because disturbed husks
allow easier beetle attack.
• Pile damaged fruit away from the garden to attract beetles.
Other Information
• Beetles are more numerous near forested areas, where their larvae
live.
• Cooking odors will attract these beetles to food indoors.