Japanese beetle feeding and survival on apple fruits

Evaldo Martins Pires,Robert Lee Koch

doi:10.14393/bj-v36n4a2020-50364

Evaldo Martins Pires, Robert Lee Koch

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14393/bj-v36n4a2020-50364

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Abstract

Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Japanese beetle, is a polyphagous pest of many crops. In these crops, including apple, it acts primarily as a defoliator, causing economic damages. The objectives were to determine the ability of P. japonica to injury fruits of SweeTango variety apples and the suitability of apple fruits as a food source for this beetle. Popillia japonica was not able to injure the surface of intact fruits, which means that it is not a primary pest for apple fruits. The lifespan of the beetles when fed soybean leaves or apple with exposed endocarp was similar. Observations of the feces of the beetles suggest a potential physiological response due the change of food from soybean leaves to apple fruits. Therefore, we can conclude that the adults should not be considered as primary pests of apple fruits; however, they may act as secondary pests if the endocarp of the fruits is exposed by some other agent.

Highlights

Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Japanese beetle, is from Japan and has colonized much of the United States (SHANOVICH et al, 2019)
After 24 hours, the P. japonica kept in contact with the intact apple were observed distant from the fruit (Figure 1A) and, after examination of the surface of the apple, which occurred daily up to 96 hours no traces of injury were observed that could be characterized as a successful attack by P. japonica
Due to the fact that P. japonica was unable to injure the intact apple fruits, this pest may be classified as a secondary pest for apple fruits

Summary

Introduction

Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Japanese beetle, is from Japan and has colonized much of the United States (SHANOVICH et al, 2019). This pest causes damage in agricultural and landscape settings by attacking plants, mainly reducing leaf surface area (POTTER; HELD 2002). This coleopteran arrived in the United States in 1911, through the importation of ornamental plants (Japanese iris), with the larvae in the planting substrate with roots (DICKERSON; WEISS 1918).

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