Bug FAQAfrican Black Beetle
Heteronychus arator · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Scarabaeidae
Also called: Black Lawn Beetle, Black Maize Beetle
Source: Wikipedia
Adults feed on plant stems at ground level and larvae eat roots and organic matter, causing damage to lawns, garden flowers, trees, shrubs and a wide range of crops, especially in summer.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The head has no carina or tubercles, unlike many other scarab beetles.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
It measures about 12 to 15 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Larvae grow best on ryegrass, gaining more weight than on white clover or lotus.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
It is most likely to damage lawns and turf during the summer months.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Unlike some other scarabs, this beetle’s head lacks a carina or tubercles, which helps tell it apart.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
When is the African black beetle most active?
It causes the most damage during the summer months.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell this beetle apart from other scarabs?
Its head lacks the ridge or tubercles that many other scarab beetles have.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does the African black beetle originate?
It is native to Africa and has been introduced to Australia, Norfolk Island and New Zealand’s North Island.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Scarabaeidae)
Japanese BeetlePopillia japonicaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Common Green June BeetleCotinis nitidaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Phyllophaga crinitaPhyllophaga crinitaDamages trees, gardens or crops
European Rose ChaferCetonia aurata
Mediterranean Spotted ChaferOxythyrea funestaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Oriental BeetleExomala orientalisDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heteronychus_arator
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.