Do African Beetles Eat Plants?

Many things can damage your lawn including some species of beetles.

There are numerous beetles bearing the name African beetle and each species has its own favorite food. Some of the beetles have the word African in their names but live somewhere else in the world. One such beetle is the African Black Beetle living in Australia.

Greenery

Africa Black Beetles are pests, according to the Department of Agriculture in Western Australia. So much so, the government has sent out fliers warning people the beetles will eat almost any vegetation including the lawn, potatoes, young trees and grapevines.

You are What you Eat

African Dung Beetle eats exactly what its name implies, dung. However, some Dung beetles have a more varied diet and will also eat things like rotting leaves. A Dung beetle will roll dung into a ball and take it everywhere it travels.

Some like it Sweet

Some beetles have a sweet tooth. The African Goliath Beetle likes high sugar content in its meal and enjoys tree sap or ripe fruit.

References

• Its Nature: African Dung Beetle
• Government of Western Australia Department of Agriculture and Food: African Black Beetle (Heteronychus Arator) - Pest of Viticulture
• Natural World; Goliathus: The African Goliath Beetles

Resources

• Beetles of Africa: The Beetle Family Catalog