How to Control African Black Beetle in Your Lawn
check_ux_article_product

How to Control African Black Beetle in Your Lawn

Scientific name: Heteronychus arator. 

Originating from southern Africa, Black African Beetles are one of Australia’s most common lawn pests. And while they are an integral part of our ecosystem, they can wreak havoc on your lawn if left untreated, no matter what grass type you have. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best insecticide treatment methods, how to identify them, and how to prevent your lawn from an infestation.

How to Control African Black Beetle in Your Lawn

Insecticides can be an effective method for controlling African black beetles in your lawn regardless of whether you have Zoysia grass, Buffalo grass, Kikuyu, or Couch. That said, it’s important to choose the right products for your grass type and apply it safely. We recommend using either a contact insecticide or a long term residual control.

Best Treatments for African Black Beetle

Acelepryn GR

Acelepryn GR 10kg Bag provides unmatched granular seasonal control against seasonal Long Grub and Caterpillar control in one single application. Acelepryn GR 10kg is suitable for Zoysia, Kikuyu, Couch and Buffalo grasses. Always read the safety directions and instructions on the product label before use.

SHOP NOW

Indigo Rumbler 100SC 5L

Indigo Rumbler 100SC 5L is an effective broad-spectrum insecticide in a suspension concentrate formulation which contains the active ingredient Bifenthrin (100g/L). Indigo Rumbler 100SC is suitable for use on Zoysia, Kikuyu, Couch and Buffalo grasses. Always read the safety directions and instructions on the product label before use.

SHOP NOW

When is the Best Time to Apply Insecticides?

African Black Beetle move through your lawn at an alarming rate. If you think you may have an infestation, seek an insecticide treatment as soon as possible to avoid severe damage. 

We recommend applying your treatment during the larvae stage when the beetles are at their most vulnerable and are actively feeding on grass roots. 

Because African Black Beetle are nocturnal, apply the insecticide late in the day when they are the most active.

Learn more about the best time to apply insecticide here. 

How Long Do Insecticides Take to Work? 

It may take up to a couple of weeks for the insecticide to eliminate African Black Beetle and suppress their population. 

You may want to re- apply the treatment again in two weeks time to ensure you haven’t missed any eggs or larvae that may have hatched since the initial treatment. Be sure to always follow insecticide instructions and advice. If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the myhomeTURF team.

What About Post-Infestation Management? 

You’ll need a good fertiliser to ensure your lawn is getting all the nutrients it needs post infestation and pest damage. We recommend the following liquid fertilisers: 

  1. Lawn Pride TurfMaxx 
  2. Lawn Pride Kelp ER
  3. Lawn Pride Root Maxx

What are African Black Beetles? 

African Black Beetles typically thrive in regions with warm climates and can range from 10 to 15 mm in length. Their shiny black coloration makes them easily distinguishable, especially during their most prevalent period, which occurs from spring through autumn.

Ironically, while infestations can occur, African Black Beetle can offer a great economic value to your lawn. They burrow through the soil and do a great job of naturally aerating it.

What is the African Black Beetle Lifecycle? 

African Black Beetle usually go through an annual generational cycle. They has four life stages: 

  1. Egg (September – November)
  2. Larval (October – February) 
  3. Pupal (January – March) 
  4. Adult (February onwards)

They will lay their eggs in the soil in spring, and, depending on the temperature, the larvae will then hatch within the next month or two. They will then pupate and transition into their adult stage between December and February. From eggs to adults, the complete life cycle lasts three to four months. 

While each of which can cause some type of damage to your lawn, it causes the most damage when it’s in the larval stage. They target the roots of grass, causing irregular brown patches or dying grass.

Do You Have an African Black Beetle Infestation? 

Adult African Black Beetle are known to chew through the stems of garden plants below the soil surface or above ground. This causes the growing points of the plant to die, or at the very least, causes it to severely weaken over time. 

If your grass is appearing loose or spongey, this likely means that the larvae are feeding and is causing severe root damage. Another telling sign is noticing dry patches around your lawn. 

Other signs of an infestation include increased bird activity. This is because birds will feed on the beetles and larvae attracted to the lawn.

How Can I Prevent African Black Beetle in My Lawn? 

Overall turf health and a strong root system is the best way to prevent an African Black Beetle infestation. 

This includes keeping up with regular lawn maintenance such as proper watering, mowing, and fertilisation to help strengthen your lawn’s defence against pests. 

We recommend ensuring your lawn also receives adequate water, particularly during dry periods to prevent stress. This also makes it less attractive to pests. 

Additionally, mow your lawn at the appropriate height for your grass type and fertilise accordingly based on the suggested guidelines to promote a strong root development.

Learn more about turf maintenance and lawn care here. 

Control African Black Beetle with myhomeTURF

Although African Black Beetle is a valued part of our ecosystem, an infestation can wreak havoc on your lawn. The best treatment requires diligence and a combination of strategies tailored to your lawn specific needs. With a network of local farmers and a wealth of knowledge, the myhomeTURF team can help you control African Black Beetle and other common pests. Visit our myhomeTURF online store for the best treatment methods available.

Free Lawn Guide

Sign up for our Newsletter to receive your free guide.

View our Privacy policy
Pests

See More Articles About:

Share Article:

Related Articles

How to Control Chafer Grubs in Your Lawn

Chafer Grubs are the larvae of different types of Scarab and Cockchafer Beetles, which live in the soil and feed on plant roots. The most damage is caused by final stage ...

Read More

How to Control Cutworms in Your Lawn

Cutworms are among the most common pests of Australian lawns, found in most states. They’re the larval stage of several species of brown moths that fly at night, including the ...

Read More

How to Control Garden Weevils

Garden weevils are an introduced insect pest that cause damage to both edible and non-edible plants. Sometimes it’s the adults that chew their way through your garden munching ...

Read More

9 Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Yard

Mosquitoes are not just a nuisance when you’re trying to enjoy being outdoors in summer, their bites can also transmit a range of harmful diseases and parasites affecting ...

Read More

How to Control Snails and Slugs in Your Lawn

Most of the pest Snails and Slugs found in our gardens are not native species, but were introduced accidentally. This includes the common Garden Snail, which arrived from the ...

Read More

5 Signs Your Lawn has a Grub Problem

Lawn  Grubs is the collective name given to the larvae of a wide range of moths and beetles. In this article, we explain how to identify Lawn Grubs, when to look out for them ...

Read More

How to Control Billbugs in Your Lawn

For many insect pests, it’s not the adults that cause most of the damage. This is especially true for Billbugs, whose larvae can quickly turn a healthy green lawn into a ...

Read More
Grasshopper in lawn

How to get rid of Grasshoppers in your lawn

The occasional Grasshopper or Locust won’t cause much damage to your lawn, it’s only when they descend on your garden in large numbers that you need to think about taking ...

Read More
Couch Mites

How to remove Couch Mites in your lawn

Couch Mites are tiny pests that are visible only through a magnifying hand lens or microscope. The translucent bodies of juvenile mites are just 0.1mm to 0.15mm long and the ...

Read More
Two Spotted Mites

How to Control Two Spotted Mites

Mites are tiny creatures, in some cases visible only through a magnifying hand lens or microscope. It’s usually the damage large numbers of Mites cause by piercing and sucking ...

Read More