Rocket Blog

The Battle of the Bagrada Beetle

As plant-lovers, many of us have had our share of encounters with aphids.  However, there is another bug that has proven to be an even larger headache over the past 3 years.  The Bagrada bug (Bagrada hilaris) is an invasive species that has recently found its way from its native homelands of Africa, India and Pakistan. 

The Bagrada beetle dines on the sap of young plants and leaves, which can cause the plant to die or to become deformed and unfit for the commercial market.  The bug’s favorite plants are cole crops, which include cabbage, broccoli, and radishes, among others, although the beetle has not hesitated to feast on other produce such as lettuce, cotton, melons, and beans.

According to an article in Western Farm Press, farmers have reported losses from 45 to 50% of their organic crop and up to 25% of their conventionally-grown crop due to the beetle. What worries many is how quickly the Bagrada beetle is spreading. The bug was first found in June 2008 in Los Angeles County, California.  By the end of 2009, the beetle had spread to into the southeast counties of California and into southwest Arizona.

Even now as we near the end of 2011, problems with Bagrada beetles persist as biological and synthetic pesticides typically used in agriculture have shown to be ineffective on the Bagrada beetle. In tests to examine the extent of damage the Bagrada beetle can inflict, as much as 80% of the plants were destroyed in less than one week¹.  A few practices have been suggested to protect crop farmers against the beetle, including transplanting, turning the soil after harvest, and/or stink bug insecticides. Nonetheless, the Bagrada vs. Crop Farmer standoff remains and uphill battle.

The Bagrada Beetle male (left) and female (right) are pictured below.  The bug looks similar to the Harlequin bug, which can be found on ornamental flowers. However, the Bagrada beetle has a long white and red line down the middle of its back.

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