The larva is the damaging stage. Infested soybean plants are tunneled and cut off at the base. Cutting off occurs after the plants have matured. Plants lodge and cannot be harvested. Early maturing and nonrotated soybeans are usually more seriously damaged.
Adults are tan beetles with darker lines running along the wing covers.
They readily drop to the ground when disturbed. Larvae are small, brown-headed, white grubs which live in the soil. They are curved and somewhat flattened from top to bottom. The main damage is done by larvae eating small roots and soft outer layers from below ground stems. Damaged plants are severely stunted.