Pest profile

Whitefringed Beetles

Naupactus species (whitefringed beetle complex, e.g., N. leucoloma) · Coleoptera: Curculionidae[3]

Whitefringed beetles are flightless gray-to-brown weevils from South America whose grubs feed on the roots of more than 385 kinds of plants, including vegetables, peanuts, ornamentals and young pines.[1][2]

Whitefringed beetle, a gray-brown weevil with pale stripes along its sides
Whitefringed beetle, a gray-brown weevil with pale stripes along its sides. (c) Austen Armstrong, some rights reserved (CC BY) — via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

How to identify it

  • Adults are about 1/2 inch long, light to dark gray or brown, with a pale band along the outer edges of the wing covers (the white fringe) and two pale lines along each side of the head and thorax.[1][2]
  • Larvae are creamy yellowish-white, legless, C-shaped grubs about 1/2 inch long.[1][2]
  • Adults feed on leaf edges, often in groups; as many as 200 to 300 may be found on one plant.[1]

Where it lives

First found near Svea, Florida, in 1936, they are now widely distributed in the southern United States.[2]

US map: public records from 29 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

There are no males in North America; females reproduce without mating.[1][2]

Adults emerge from May to October and lay egg masses of 11 to 14 on stems, roots and soil, and on hay, firewood, lumber and tools that touch the ground.[2]

They can't fly but may crawl up to 3/4 mile; there is usually one generation a year, though some grubs feed a second year before pupating 2 to 6 inches deep.[1][2]

Damage and signs

  • The most serious damage is grubs feeding on roots and below-ground stems, which can kill scattered plants or whole plantings.[1][2]
  • Adults prefer plants with large, broad, smooth leaves.[2]

Health risk

None to people or pets.[1][2]

Control

Prevention

Grubs are less damaging to grasses and small grains with fibrous roots; UF suggests rotating legumes on a three- to four-year cycle.[2]

Because eggs are laid on items that touch the soil, check hay, firewood, lumber and tools moved from infested sites.[2]

Pesticides

NC State says most insecticides labeled for landscape use should give adequate control of adults, and pyrethroids last longer.[1]

Common questions

What are the gray beetles with a white edge chewing my plants?
Likely whitefringed beetles, flightless weevils with a pale band along the wing covers.[1][2]
Can whitefringed beetles fly?
No; they can only crawl, up to about 3/4 mile.[1][2]
What damage do whitefringed beetles do?
Their grubs feed on roots, which can kill plants.[1][2]

Sources

  1. NC State Extension, “Whitefringed Beetles.” content.ces.ncsu.edu/whitefringed-beetles (accessed 2026-10-15)
  2. University of Florida IFAS Extension (Featured Creatures), “Whitefringed Beetles, Naupactus spp. (EENY-294).” ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN572 (accessed 2026-10-15)
  3. iNaturalist, “Naupactus leucoloma taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/333624 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-15. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.