Scientific Name: Heteronychus arator
Size: Total Length 15mm
What does it look like?
The adult Black Lawn Beetle, or African Black Beetle, is a shiny black, rounded beetle. The larvae are pale and soft-bodied with a brown sclerotized head.
Where is it found?
Introduced to Australia. Tropical and subtropical regions worldwide; native to southern Africa.
What are its habitats & habits?
Occurs in coastal regions near main cities and agricultural activity. Larvae and adults burrow and feed on plant roots and tubers underground. Adult beetle also chews on stems at or under soil surface, and can fly to new areas. In gardens it can cause damage to lawns, vegetables and ornamental plants. Due to its generalist diet it is an agricultural pest of pasture, grains, sugar cane, grapevines, potatoes and newly planted eucalypts, among others.
This species features in my book A Naturalist’s Guide to the Insects of Australia