Kauaʻi record · KCA-IA-00146
Strawberry Sap Beetle
Stelidota geminata
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About Strawberry Sap Beetle
Strawberry Sap Beetle (Stelidota geminata) is a member of Nitidulidae in the order Coleoptera. Its recorded origin status on Kauaʻi is introduced.
Strawberry sap beetle (Stelidota geminata) is an introduced nitidulid documented from Kauaʻi. Adults are strongly attracted to ripe, damaged, and fermenting fruit; feeding can open cavities in fruit, and females may lay eggs on injured fruit or nearby decaying material. Larvae feed in deteriorating fruit and later pupate in nearby soil.
Kauaʻi occurrence evidence: Matsunaga, Howarth & Kumashiro (2019) Table 1 includes Kauaʻi island code 'Ka'; first-detection year shown as 1997; reported island distribution: Ha, Ka, La, Ma, Mo, Oa.
The cited occurrence evidence does not by itself establish current abundance or population trend on Kauaʻi.
Life cycle
Eggs are laid near or on damaged fruit; larvae feed in fruit; pupation occurs in soil; adults disperse to ripening or fermenting fruit.
Habitat
Fruit crops, gardens, composting/rotting fruit, and nearby vegetation.
Food and ecological role
Ripe, overripe, damaged, and decomposing fruits and vegetables; strawberries are a well-known crop host elsewhere.
Reproduction
Females lay eggs on injured fruit or debris associated with rotting fruit.
Movement
Adults fly from surrounding habitat into fruiting areas in response to ripening and fermentation odors.
Ecosystem role
Introduced saprophagous/fruit-feeding beetle and potential secondary fruit pest.
Threats and impacts
Can enlarge existing fruit damage and contaminate harvested fruit; impact depends strongly on sanitation and the amount of overripe fruit.
Monitoring
Record fruit host and whether fruit was already damaged; sanitation and removal of overripe fruit are relevant management context.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Stelidota geminata
- Common names
- Strawberry Sap Beetle
- Family
- Nitidulidae
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Record type
- species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Present
- Origin
- Introduced
- Conservation status
- Not assessed
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal description
- Strawberry Sap Beetle (Stelidota geminata) is a member of Nitidulidae in the order Coleoptera. Its recorded origin status on Kauaʻi is introduced.