Observations on the Infection of Japanese Beetle Larvae with Bacillus popilliae1

Abstract

Adult Japanese beetles, popillia japonica Newman, can be maintained en masse in captivity for egg laying. Few eggs were laid per female beetle, but 90% of the eggs hatched when incubated immediately. Between 40 and 50% of the eggs hatched after storage for 3 weeks in moist soil or in 0.85% NaCI at 3-5. The larvae developed normally, were susceptible to infection with Bacillus popilliae Dutky, and showed symptoms typical of milky disease when infected. Spores formed in the hemolymph of diseased laboratory-reared larvae were typical of those formed in field-collected larvae.