P. japanica


Japanese beetle photographed by Stephanie Libby and Dr. John Pickering

Author: Stephanie Libby

Species: Popillia japanica (Newman)

Common name: Japanese Beetle

Class: Insecta

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Scarabaedae

Subfamily: Rutelina

Genus: Popillia


Identification

Popillia japanica, better known as the Japanese beetle is a shiny metallic green beetle with copper colored wings as an adult. The egg is small (1.5-2.0 mm), and white or cream colored and becomes larger and more spherical as the embryo develops. The larva is white and C-shaped and has a brown head. It can be distinguished by two rows of spines whcih occur on the underside of the last abdominal segment in a v-shape. The grub is 16-25 mm long. Lastly, the pupa is approximately 13 mm long and 6 mm wide. Depending on its age, the pupa can be cream colored, light brown, or metallic green.

Popillia japanica was described by Newman and an identification key can be found in Bradley's Manual of the Genera of Beetles of America North of Mexico.

 

Click here to see a picture of some Popillia japanica eating

 

Area

Status

References

North America

yes

Headstrom

Eastern North America

yes

Headstrom

Southeastern United States

yes

http://ipm

Southern Appalachian States

yes

http://ipm

Piedmont

Widespread

http://ipm www.ncsu.edu

Blue Ridge Mountains

Heavy

http://ipm www.ncsu.edu

Ridge & Valley

yes

http://ipm www.

Georgia

yes

Stephanie Libby, Pers. Obs.

Clarke County, Ga.

yes

" "

Sam's

field

wetland

woods

1-Hectare Plot

 

common

yes

?

no

no

 

Stephanie Libby, Pers. Obs.

" "

" "

" "

" "

 


Natural History

The Japanese Beetle lays its eggs in the soil in late July or August where the grubs feed on roots in the soil. Once cold weather strikes, the grubs overwinter deeper in the soil, below the frost line until April. As the weather warms up, the grubs return to the surface (or just below) to feed. In June, they pupate and in July the adult emerges.

Japanese beetles prefer bushes and trees (particularily of the Rosacea family) and are very much a pest in the Eastern United States. Introduced from Japan in 1916, the adults eat leaves, buds, fruit and petals, while the grubs attack roots of turf grasses. Both the adult and the grubs cause considerable damage to yards, gardens, parks, and golf courses. Various biological control factors have been used on the beetles including the "milky spore disease"(http://ipmwww.ncsu.edu). Another method of biological control being tested is Steinernema glaseri, a small nematode effective in reducing the number of white grubs. The nematode enters the grub through the mouth and releases a deadly bacteria Xenorhabdus poinarii (http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/qtr/q495/ipm495.htm). Many other types of control are being tested for use against the Japanese beetle, as scientists attempt to eliminate this ecologically important pest.

Note: For more information regarding damage due to Popillia japanica click here: http://www.biohaven.com/jbeet.htm.


Geography

P. japanica can be found throughout Georgia and the Southeastern United States. Japanese beetles can be found in the far corner of the blue plot of the old field at Sam's Farm.

 


References

Klein, Michael. App. Tech Lab: Http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/qtr/q495/ipm495.htm.

Http://ipmwww.ncsu.edu

Arnett, R.H. 1968. The Beetles of the United States. The American Entomological Institute, Michigan.

Headstrom, R. 1977. The Beetles of America. A.S. Barnes and Company, Inc. New Jersey.

Evans, G. 1975. Life of Beetles. George Allen & Unwin Ltd. New York


Related Sites:Japanese Beetles

L.H.Townsend, Univ. of Kentucky, Dept. of Entomology

D. Smitley

D.G.Pfeiffer & P.B.Schultz

D.J.Shetlar, Ohio State Univ.


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