Oriental Beetle

Natural Habitat

Gardens, lawns, and agricultural fields; common in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on flowers and various garden plants, though less destructively than the Japanese beetle. Larvae (grubs) eat the roots of grasses and ornamental plants.

Behavior Patterns

They are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, often burying themselves in the soil during the day. Their life cycle involves a one-year generation where they overwinter as grubs.

Risks & Benefits

They are considered a significant ornamental and turf pest. The larval stage can damage lawns and nursery stock by eating root systems. They pose no direct risk to humans.

Identified on: 6/16/2026