IARN — A well-known pest of turfgrass and landscapes in the United States is once again making its presence known in Iowa crop fields.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach agronomists have taken many reports of the Japanese beetle showing up across the state. Aaron Saeugling with ISU Extension says the pest has been reported in over three-fourths of Iowa counties since 1994. The adult beetles eat the foliage, fruits and flowers of over 300 plants, and can also be seen feeding in many corn and soybean fields.
“One of the biggest challenges we have with the Japanese beetles is that we really only visually see them about two months of the year,” Saeugling said. “So, that time is now – starting typically in late June or early July – and they will stay here through probably the first part of September. This is the adult version of what I will call a white grub.”
Foliage is consumed by the beetles by eating the tissue between the veins, a type of feeding called skeletonizing. Flowers and fruits are devoured completely, often by a horde of a dozen or more beetles at a time.
Saeugling noted the Japanese beetle can often be mistaken for Junebugs due to their similar appearance. The head and thorax are shiny metallic green, and the wing covers are coppery red. The row of five tufts of white hairs on each side of the abdomen is a distinguishing feature.
A full list of management practices against the Japanese beetle can be found linked here on ISU Extension’s website.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network
Photo by Brent Barnett
