Picnic beetles, also known as sap beetles, are small 1/4 inch long insects. They are black with four orange spots. Picnic beetles are attracted to fermenting or souring smells and are found on overripe and rotting fruits and vegetables [1].

Picnic beetles become a problem when they come into gardens. They particularly like corn, melons, berries, and tomatoes. At first they are attracted to overripe fruits and vegetables, but once picnic beetles are in the garden they can also infest nearby food that is still ripening [2].

The best way to keep picnic beetles out of your garden is to avoid attracting them into the area to begin with. You can do this by picking fruits and vegetables as they ripen and regularly checking on and getting rid of overripe and rotting ones.

Insecticides are not a practical solution. There is a waiting period from when you apply the insecticides until you can pick your crops. By then, however, new picnic beetles often have already come back into the garden.

In the long run, good sanitation practices are the way to keep picnic beetles out of your garden.