Bug FAQNorthern Tamarisk Beetle
Diorhabda carinulata · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Chrysomelidae
Also called: Tamarisk leaf beetle
The northern tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda carinulata) is a leaf beetle that feeds on tamarisk trees. Adults overwinter in leaf litter beneath tamarisk and become active in early spring to feed and mate, entering diapause in late summer.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Diorhabda carinulata is commonly called the northern tamarisk beetle.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
The beetle is employed as a biological control agent rather than a household pest.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
Biological control with this beetle can suppress tamarisk by 75 to 85% but will not eradicate it.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
In North America it is released to control saltcedar (tamarisk) in arid and semiarid ecosystems.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
It feeds on tamarisk leaves, preferring Tamarix ramosissima over T. parviflora. In its native range it is a known pest of tamarisk in western China.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults spend the winter in leaf litter under tamarisk and emerge in early spring to feed and mate.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Activity begins in early spring when tamarisk leaves bud, and adults enter diapause in late summer and early fall.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 8 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Idaho.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants does the northern tamarisk beetle eat?
It feeds on tamarisk leaves, especially Tamarix ramosissima.
Source: Wikipedia
Is the northern tamarisk beetle a threat to my garden?
It targets tamarisk, an invasive shrub, and is used to reduce its spread.
Source: Wikipedia
When are northern tamarisk beetles active?
Adults become active in early spring when tamarisk buds and enter diapause in late summer.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Chrysomelidae)
Spotted Cucumber BeetleDiabrotica undecimpunctataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bean WeevilAcanthoscelides obtectusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Cowpea WeevilCallosobruchus maculatusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Swamp Milkweed Leaf BeetleLabidomera clivicollisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alniDamages trees, gardens or crops
Dogbane Leaf BeetleChrysochus auratusSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diorhabda_carinulata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.