Asiatic Garden Beetle
Scientific Name: Maladera castanea
Order & Family: Order: Coleoptera; Family: Scarabaeidae
Size: 8 to 11 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found in gardens, lawns, and agricultural fields; often burrows in soil during the day.
Diet & Feeding
Adults feed on foliage and flowers of over 100 species of plants; larvae (grubs) eat the roots of grasses and ornamentals.
Behavior Patterns
Adults are nocturnal and are highly attracted to bright lights. During the day, they hide in the soil or leaf litter.
Risks & Benefits
Considered a garden and agricultural pest due to leaf damage and root destruction by larvae. No direct health risk to humans.
Identified on: 5/19/2026