The eggs hatch into tiny white larvae that feed on the watery, fermented juices. After a brief period as a pupa in the soil new beetles emerge just in time for your picnic and fresh garden produce. What to Do There is lots of advice for managing sap beetles in the garden. Some of it is even useful. Unfortunately, the management options at the picnic are usually much less satisfactory.
Sanitation is the best management strategy for the home garden.
Keep the garden or fruit production area as clean as possible through frequent picking and removal of damaged, diseased and overripe fruits. Bury or discard all damaged or decomposing fruits and vegetables to eliminate beetle food sources. Spraying insecticide for sap beetles is impractical and difficult because the crop is ready for harvest or harvest already is underway. If you do spray, use an insecticide with a short harvest-waiting interval and follow label directions carefully. Malathion, rotenone or permethrin are suggested if you choose to spray in the home garden.