Japanese Beetles Have Started To Emerge
Posted on June 25, 2021 by Jen Llewellyn
Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica) adults are starting to take flight in southern Ontario! They have been spotted in Hamilton and Toronto this week.
Look for these shiny green and copper beetles feeding on grape leaves, roses and many other trees and shrubs. Where possible, homeowners can knock adults into a bucket of soapy water (to smother them). Several insecticides are registered for the adults in greenhouses and nurseries, including BeetleGONE.
European chafer (Amphimallon majale) adults are also starting to emerge. Look for medium brown scarab beetle swarming blooming Linden trees (e.g. Tilia cordata). Historically we see them around Canada day in the Guelph area.
And don’t forget about our little friends, the Rose Chafers (Macrodactylus subspinosus), pictured above. They are also out in full force. These scarab beetles feed on the flowers, fruit and foliage of several ornamentals. The larval stage feeds on roots of grasses and weeds (usually a sod nursery pest). Like most scarab beetles, females are more likely to lay their eggs in sandy soils and will avoid egg laying in clay soils. Insecticides for the grub stage of other scarab beetles will also reduce larvae of rose chafer.
Preventative applications of Intercept and Acelepryn are registered for white grubs in nursery and greenhouse production and the application period begins now. (Above photo: European chafer larval feeding damage).
Have questions regarding pesticide applications for this pest? Then check out this post from a few weeks ago on JB control and export regulations.
Japanese beetle have been spotted in Montréal and L’Assomption near Montréal on june 24.
So much earlier than here! Thanks for sharing!