The Asiatic Garden Beetle, Maladera Castanea (Arrow 1913)

The Asiatic garden beetle, Maladera castanea (Arrow), has been a pest in the northeastern United States since the 1920s. Generally not as abundant or damaging as the Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman), the Asiatic garden beetle is occasionally numerous enough to cause damage to turf, gardens and field crops, as well as simply being a nuisance. The discovery of the Asiatic garden beetle in Florida was not unexpected. This is the first report of this pest beetle in the lower southeastern U.S. coastal plain.