The palo verde beetle is a large beetle found in the American Southwest. It grows to about 2-4 inches in length. The beetle spends most of its life underground, feeding on tree roots. After 3-4 years, the adult beetles emerge from the soil to mate. The females then lay eggs near tree roots. The larvae hatch and bore into the roots, continuing the cycle.
Though dramatic in appearance, the palo verde beetle is not dangerous to humans. Their natural predators include roadrunners, owls, coyotes, and bobcats. Larvae are eaten by skunks, coatis, and bears.
The beetles are attracted to light and are most active in summer monsoon season. They are awkward fliers due to their heavy bodies and short wings. The mature beetles do not eat, living only to mate. As part of the natural cycle, they provide nutrients to the soil and thin dense stands of trees.
So while the palo verde beetle may give homeowners a fright, it does not pose a threat. It fills an important niche in the local ecosystem. With its large size and striking colors, it is one of the Southwest’s more interesting insects.
How do I get rid of palo verde beetles?
Place beetles on the ground. Crush them with your foot to kill them quickly. Wear closed-toed shoes with thick soles. Pour insecticides into exit beetle holes in soil around trees. Keep trees healthy. This is the best prevention. Replace removed trees with native trees. Palo Verde beetles attack non-native trees and shrubs. Adult Palo Verde beetles grow three to six inches long. They look like roaches. Unlike roaches, they cause damage to landscaping. Likewise, they gravitate toward sweet-smelling trees and flowers. They provide fruit and nectar. Beetles lay eggs in rotting roots. They seek them out.
Arizona’s monsoon season starts June 15th. It lasts until September 30th. Palo Mesa beetles appear then. The weather change draws them from trees. They find mates, causing infestations. Use this guide to learn about them. Learn how to keep them out of your home.
Palo verde beetles are 2 to 4 inches long when full-grown. Their color ranges from brown to black. Larvae or grubs are a creamy white. Palo verde trees need water to get established. The tree grows more quickly with occasional water. These trees grow in most soils. However, soil must drain well. Established trees need no fertilizer. Pruning should be done in cool months. Blue palo verde trees have blue-green bark. They have yellow flowers.
Stomp on adult beetles with a shoe. This reduces adults laying eggs. Keep plants healthy and mulched. This gives beetles no weak roots to feed on. Palo verde beetles emerge after rain. They can bite if you put fingers near their mouths. Rather don’t do this. Take guesswork out of preventing weeds and disease in your lawn. Get additional savings. The only instant knockdowns leave no residual behind. systemic treatment around roots with proper insecticide should last one year. Make sure tree gets deep but infrequent irrigations. Don’t give frequent irrigations. This stresses trees. Borers attack stressed trees.
The Palo Verde beetle is native to the U.S. and Northern Mexico. It is associated with the palo verde tree. The beetle is one of the largest in North America. The larval form feeds on trees. Adults do not feed in their short life. The Palo Verde beetle goes by other names. These include the palo verde root borer and palo verde borer beetle. The beetles are attracted to light. See them in the evening when patio lights are on. Use pyrethroid insecticides. They deliver quick knockdown of insects on trees. If tree branches die gradually, young beetles likely feed on the roots. Adult beetles are attracted to light. Turn off outside lights to keep them away. The beetles are generally harmless. Their large size makes them appear frightening.
Are palo verde beetles cockroaches?
Palo verde beetles have harder shells, thicker antennae, and dark brown or black colors which is what makes them different from cockroaches. Despite their pincers and appearance likened to a giant cockroach, they are in fact not harmful to humans or trees. They are slow movers, though they can fly clumsily.
The larvae feed on the roots of palo verde trees. The adult beetle is one of the largest in North America spanning 3.5 to 6 inches long. Palo verde beetles are often mistaken as cockroaches because they have long antennas, long spiked legs, oval shaped body, and move fast.
Their whole life purpose is to fall in love, make babies then die after mating. They do not eat during the last stage and only come out to mate in summer. While cockroaches are 1 inch long, palo verde beetles are much bigger with huge antennae and mandibles. They call Arizona home and chances are you’ve seen them in your backyard during monsoon season.
Its larvae or grub feed on the roots of palo verde trees for 3-4 years before they become adults. And although they are attracted to light, these root boring insects rarely enter homes unlike small roaches. Heat and moisture are like magnets for flying cockroaches that fly. The pests gather near heaters, in heating ducts, and around leaky units.
What trees do palo verde beetles eat?
The palo verde beetle is one of the largest beetle species in North America. Adult individuals have the potential to attain lengths ranging from approximately 54 to 56 mm, equivalent to 2 to 4 inches. The larvae feed on the living roots of certain trees, like the palo verde. We all know wood borer – these are longhorn beetles. The palo verde beetle is a longhorn beetle.
There is an old saying that if you kill a root, you kill a branch and vice versa. In this regard, the palo verde beetle can cause dead branches in certain trees. This is the cycle of nature, and often helps open clumps of trees up, keeps the soil rich in humic substances and is part of the great cycle of life. The large antennae are the most prominent characteristic of this species. These insects possess minute spines in their thoracic region. The colouration of adult borers is commonly observed to be black or brown.
Newborn grubs eat the woody tissue of the roots. Adult beetles drink nectar or feed on fruit. They typically do not enter homes. Their natural predators include coyotes. Grubs can live in roots for 3 to 4 years before transforming and emerging.
Eating palo verde beetles won’t hurt dogs. If dogs develop an taste for them, it could lead to digestive problems. Despite appearance likened to cockroaches, they are not harmful to humans or trees. They are slow movers, though they can fly clumsily. They attack stressed trees, so prevention is keeping trees healthy. The palo verde has edible seeds used for flour.