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Southeastern Apple ProductionENTOMOLOGY |
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Japanese Beetle
Popillia japonica (Newman)
Description
Adult Japanese beetles (JB) are about 5/8 inch long and metallic green with a reddish brown wing cover and a series of small white spots along the sides and tip of the abdomen. Larvae are white larvae (grubs) ranging from 1/16 to 1 1/4 inch long, and pupae are cream to reddish and 1/2 inch long.
 Adult |
Life History
JB larvae overwinter in the soil and pupate in June. Peak adult emergence occurs in July, when adult beetles are seen flying, feeding, and mating on warm sunny days. Mated females lay white spherical eggs 2 to 6 inches deep in the soil, normally producing only one generation per year.
Damage
Adults attack the fruit by chewing irregular holes in it, and in some cases the fruit is nearly devoured. Apple foliage is skeletonized so that all the leaf tissue between the veins is removed. Orchard grass is also occasionally killed by the larvae feeding on the roots.
 Fruit and foliage damage |
 Foliage damage |
 Damage on bean leaves |
Monitoring and Control
Adult JB are strong fliers and may seem to appear in continuous or successive invasions, especially after soaking rains. Orchards near pastures fertilized with chicken litter often suffer more severe JB problems. If an orchard has a history of problems, use insecticides before the beetles become too abundant, as aggregations of beetles tend to attract other beetles from afar. Protecting fruit and foliage requires killing adult beetles in the orchard.
Insect and Mite Management Overview
Insect and Mite Index
Southeastern Apple Production Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center 455 Research Drive Mills River, NC 28759 Phone: 828.684.3562 ~ Fax: 828.684.8715 Email: jim_walgenbach@ncsu.edu |
Web Crafters: Anne S. Napier and
Steve Schoof |
Updated March 26, 2007