Green-necked tenebrionid beetle

Systematic position. The green-necked tenebrionid beetle Cylindronotus viridicollis belongs to the order Coleoptera and the family Tenebrionidae. These beetles are common in various agricultural landscapes and, despite often being associated with detritus, can cause significant damage to cultivated plants under favorable conditions for their reproduction.

Damaged crops. As a polyphagous species, this insect feeds on a wide range of plants. In agricultural environments, it primarily poses a threat to cereal crops, sunflowers, sugar beets, and various vegetable crops. Young sprouts and seedlings are most susceptible to their feeding habits, which can lead to thinning stands.

Biology and life cycle. This species undergoes complete metamorphosis. Adults typically overwinter in the soil or under surface debris, becoming active in the spring. After feeding, females lay eggs in the soil. The larvae emerge and live within the soil layer, feeding on decomposing organic matter and occasionally on the underground parts of plants before pupating.

Nature of damage and economic importance. The primary damage is caused by adults feeding on leaves and stems, resulting in irregular holes or defoliation. In severe cases, particularly during slow growth periods for the crop, the beetles can destroy the emerging seedlings entirely. This reduces plant population density and may result in the need for reseeding if the damage threshold is exceeded.

Control measures. Protecting crops from this pest requires a combination of preventive and curative strategies:

• Implementing crop rotation to disrupt the beetle's life cycle.
• Thorough soil tillage to destroy pupation sites and limit larval development.
• Weed management to eliminate alternative food sources for the adults.
• Seed treatment with appropriate systemic insecticides to protect young seedlings.
• Application of foliar insecticides if monitoring indicates high pest density in the field.