Biology and Management of the Japanese Beetle

Abstract

The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, an introduced scarab, has become the most widespread and destructive insect pest of turf, landscapes, and nursery crops in the eastern United States. It also damages many fruit, garden, and field crops. This review emphasizes recent research on the beetle's biology and management. Adults feed on leaves, flowers, or fruits of more than 300 plant species. Adaptations mediating their host finding, dietary range, mating, and oviposition are discussed. We also address abiotic and biotic factors affecting population dynamics of the root-feeding larvae. Japanese beetle grubs are widely controlled with preventive soil insecticides, but options for remedial control of adults and larvae presently are limited. Advances in understanding host plant resistance, entomopathogens, and other biorational approaches may provide more options for integrated management. Despite ongoing regulatory efforts, the Japanese beetle remains a threat as an invasive species.

Pheromone-based Mating and Aggregation in the Sorghum Chafer, Pachnoda interrupta

“…However, females were also attracted, albeit to a far lower degree than males. With scarabs, the attraction of both sexes to a femaleproduced pheromone has also been observed in the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Potter and Held 2002), and opportunistic attraction of same-sex individuals to sex pheromones has been implied as a mechanism in the formation of aggregations in bark beetles (Schlyter and Birgersson 1999). The reason for the lack of male-biased attraction to unmated females in a later field study (Fig.…”

Japanese Beetle and Other Coleoptera Feeding on Grapevines in Eastern North America

“…The biology of JB has been reviewed by Fleming ( 1972 ) , and Potter and Held ( 2002 ) . It is a native of Japan, but probably not mainland Asia (Potter and Held 2002 ) .…”

“…It is a native of Japan, but probably not mainland Asia (Potter and Held 2002 ) . In the past, it had been of limited importance in Japan because of restricted habitats, and the presence of natural enemies.…”

Wood production, wood technology, and biotechnological impacts

“…within the beetle's larvae that adopt a white appearance when fully filled with the bacteria (therefore the name milky disease). P. popilliae products are available on the market, but dependence on in vivo growth in larvae collected from the wild limits commercial mass production (Klein & Kaya 1995, Potter & Held 2002.…”

“…This requires extensive research on ecological effects before licensing an agent for a specific environment -preferentially, the BCA should be of indigenous origin (for further discussion see Headrick & Goeden 2001, Lacey et al 2001, Shah & Pell 2003. In living tree and in wood protection, some biological control products of harmful fungi and insects have reached commercial Biological Wood Protection 275 production and application (van Frankenhuyzen et al 2000, Pratt et al 2000, Lacey et al 2001, Potter & Held 2002. In other cases, research to obtain ecological and economical viable products is actively ongoing (e.g.…”