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Nature

Grapevine Beetle

What is grapevine beetle?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Scientific name Pelidnota punctata[1]
Family Scarabaeidae[1]
Subfamily Rutelinae[1]
Adult diet Leaves and fruit of grapevines[3]
Larval diet Rotting or decaying wood[3]

Grapevine beetle is the common name for *Pelidnota punctata*, a scarab beetle in the subfamily Rutelinae that feeds on grape leaves and fruit as an adult and on rotting wood as a larva. It is also called the spotted June beetle or spotted pelidnota.

Context

The grapevine beetle (*Pelidnota punctata*) is a member of the scarab beetle family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Rutelinae [1]. Adults feed on grape leaves and fruit, while larvae consume rotting or decaying wood [3]. Adults are active from June to August in Minnesota and range across the United States and southern Canada east of the Great Plains [5]. The species is native to the Nearctic region [6]. Adults cause relatively little damage to host plants, though outbreaks can skeletonize grape leaves [4]. It is commonly confused with the grape flea beetle (*Altica* spp.) and the grape bud beetle, both different pests of grapevines [2].

Documented claims

  • Adults do relatively little damage to host plants. [4]
  • Adults occur in the United States and southern Canada east of the Great Plains. [5]
  • The species is native to the Nearctic region. [6]

Questions and answers

Are grapevine beetles good or bad?

They are mostly harmless. Adults do relatively little damage to grapevines, though outbreaks can skeletonize leaves [4].

Is a grapevine beetle the same as a June bug?

No. The grapevine beetle is also called the spotted June beetle, but it is a distinct species from true June bugs [1].

Are grapevine beetles native to Ontario?

Yes. The species is native to the Nearctic region and occurs in southern Canada east of the Great Plains, which includes Ontario [5].

Sources

  1. Grapevine Beetle (Family Scarabaeidae) — uwm.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Grape Flea Beetle | Home and Garden Education Center — homegarden.cahnr.uconn.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Grape Bud Beetle - UC IPM — ipm.ucanr.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. grapevine beetle - Minnesota Seasons — minnesotaseasons.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. Understanding the Grapevine Beetle - Wild Explained — wildexplained.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  6. The grapevine beetle (Pelidnota punctata) is .. ... — vmnh.net (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Nature