The beetle is inches long with black and yellow strips on its back. The female shows more prominent striping then the male. They emerge in July and live through September. Host Range and Damage Field corn, Sweet corn, and other grasses. The larvae prune the roots of the plants this leads to a smaller root mass.
Plants have less ability to absorb nutrients.
The smaller base also leads to more lodging since the plants are not held to the ground. The fallen plants are unable to be harvested and the crop is lost. The adult beetles feed on fresh silk from the ears of corn. Without silk, pollination can not happen. The ears of corn are under developed and yield loss is observed.