Ambrosia beetles belong to the Scolytidae and Platypodinae insect families. These beetle species are wood borers and use trees as nesting and breeding grounds. Ambrosia beetles usually make their homes in dead or rotten wood, but these beetles occasionally develop homes within living trees. One of Georgia's primary native ambrosia beetles is the pine bark beetle (Platypus flavicornis). This beetle prefers making its home in pine trees. In 2007, the Georgia Forestry Commission discovered the camphor shot beetle, an exotic ambrosia beetle from Asia. Camphor shot beetles breed and nest in camphor, camellia and beech trees.
Georgia has three species of flea beetles: the pale striped, Southern tobacco and tobacco. Pale-striped species (Systena blanda) is the largest of Georgia's flea beetles at 1/10 inch; this beetle may be identified by two yellow stripes on its back. The tobacco (Epitrix hirtipennis), and Southern tobacco (Epitrix fasciata) flea bettles are less than 1/10 inch long and are solid reddish brown or yellow. One of Georgia's largest crop beetles is the yellow-margined leaf beetle (Microtheca ochroloma) at 1/5 inch. Georgia's agricultural community considers all three flea beetles to be pests since they damage crops annually. Flea beetles leave their mark by chewing holes through the crops leaves.
Exotic beetles are species who are not originally native to Georgia. The Asian long-horned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) is native to China and may be identified by their two long antennae, which are solid black with white stripes. These beetles are also among the longest beetles in Georgia at 1 1/10 inches. Another China native in Georgia is the multicolored lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis). As their name suggests, multicolored lady beetles come in red, orange and pale yellow colors with black spots. Exotic beetles usually have no natural predators in a foreign land; thus, they are able to out-compete native species for food and shelter.
Livestock yards and chicken coops are common habitats for darkling beetles, also known as darkening beetles. Darkling beetles belong to the Tenebrionidae family. These beetles receive their common name from their coloration, which is usually black or dark brown. Darkling beetles feed and nest in the carcasses of dead animals and animal feed. The livestock and poultry industry complain that darkling beetles and their larvae are potential sources of disease such as Newcastle disease and fowl pox. The University of Georgia says darkling beetles cost Georgia's livestock and poultry industry over $11 million in 2000.