Cone emergence traps were used to monitor the abundance of the root-feeding beetles Diaprepes abbreviatus and Phyllophaga vandinei in the soil surrounding young trees of sapodilla (Manilkara zapota), rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum), mamey sapote (Pouteria sapota), and lychee (Litchi chinensis) at various agroenvironments. Although pest control has focused on D. abbreviatus, P. vandinei has been found to be more common and appears to be a more detrimental pest for these species with importance to the emerging tropical exotic fruit industry in Puerto Rico. Ecology and behavior of these pests that is pertinent to their control is presented.