In the U.S., the pine chafer occurs from New York to the Lake States and south to Georgia. The female is tan to light brown.
Adults feed mostly on new needles of various pines, eating notches just above the sheath.
Damaged needles turn brown giving the trees a scorched appearance. The dead needle portion above the feeding site will fall off and the needle will grow to about one-half of normal length. During active infestations, adults feed during the day and are easily spotted. There is one generation per year. Larvae are typical beetle grubs and over-winter 2 to 4 inches deep in the soil.