Habitat of Diorhabda Elongata Beetles

The Diorhabda elongata beetle is also known as the Mediterranean tamarisk beetle because it feeds on the tamarisk, or salt cedar, plant. Because of its diet the beetle's habitat range parallels that of the tamarisk plant. Originally that was in southern Europe and Africa, but the beetle has also been introduced to the United States.

  1. Natural Range

    • The tamarisk beetle's natural habitat is in the southern European and northern African countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. This hot and sometimes dry area is home to the tamarisk plant, which is able to survive the temperatures as well as tolerate places that get little rainfall. The habitat for the beetle (and the plant) also reaches into the Middle East as well as southern Russia.

    In the United States

    • The tamarisk beetle was introduced into the United States in order to stem the growth and spread of the tamarisk plant, which reached invasive status in the southwest and California. The beetle's habitat in these areas is harsh and arid and includes the desert areas of Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California. These dry shrublands get little rain and have little vegetation, which makes them similar to the lands of Africa, Europe and the Middle East where the beetle species originates.

    Flourishes in Arid Habitat

    • The tamarisk beetle lives almost solely on a diet of tamarisk and both species flourish in the arid habitats of North Africa, the Middle East and the southwestern United States. The beetle was introduced into the United States to serve as a natural pest control against the invasive tamarisk plant. The tamarisk beetle doesn't totally destroy plant populations but is able to reduce them by up to 85 percent, which allows other native plants to compete and revive in areas where tamarisk had previously overtaken them.

    Tamarisk Beetle Competition

    • The tamarisk beetle is not the sole insect to live in the desert habitats of the southwestern United States and feed on tamarisk, which means it has to compete with other species. Among its competition is the leafhopper. During one study the leafhopper fared so well in the hot, low-water conditions that it caused starvation of the tamarisk beetle. Since the tamarisk beetle feeds exclusively on the tamarisk plant it does not look for other food sources when the tamarisk is destroyed or eaten by other insects.