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Japanese Beetle
Name: Japanese Beetle
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Genus: Popillia
Species: P. japonica
Family: Cimicidae
Habitat:
Turf is the most favoured habitat of the larval stage of the Japanese beetle.
Food:
Beetles prefer to feed on plants exposed to the direct rays of the sun, beginning at the top, regardless of height, and working downward. They feed on the upper surface of the foliage of most plants, chewing the tissue between the veins, leaving a lace-like skeleton. Japanese beetles feed on a large range of hosts, including leaves of plants of the following common crops: beans, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, grapes, hops, roses, cherries, plums, pears, peaches, raspberries, blackberries, corn, peas, blueberries, as well as many others.
Method of Travel:
Crawling, Flying
Prevention:
- Killing the grubs that turn into Japanese beetles is the first line of prevention.
Steps to control:
- Japanese beetles are slow. You can easily pick them off plants with your hands and toss them into a bucket of soapy water. Do it in the morning when the beetles are sleepy.
- Good, long lasting, low-toxic methods of insect control can be done with Knock Down Indoor and Plant Flying & Crawling Insect Killer or other Knock Down products listed below.