Feeding habits vary widely, although most beetles consume plant material. Most adults have a long, thin snout with chewing mouthparts at the end. There are 3,000 or so species in this group in North America. All of the land dwellers prey on insects, and the group includes some of the fastest runners among beetles. Following are some of the more common beetles and the trees or areas they affect.
Many beetles are specific to certain plants.
The first line of defense against beetles is to hand pick them. This is of course impossible on a large tree or shrub, or down among the vegetable leaves in the garden. There are several biological methods to control beetles such as Neem spray which is most effective against the larval stages. Pyrethrum will control beetles. Netting will keep the beetles off the vegetable garden too.