Adult Japanese Beetles Research Articles

Where and Why do Females of the Parasitic Fly Istocheta aldrichi Lay Their Eggs on the Body of Adult Japanese Beetles?

Where and Why do Females of the Parasitic Fly Istocheta aldrichi Lay Their Eggs on the Body of Adult Japanese Beetles?

Gradual Decline of Japanese Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Populations in Michigan Follows Establishment of Ovavesicula popilliae (Microsporidia).

The purpose of this research was to document the incidence of Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), infection by the microsporidian pathogen, Ovavesicula popilliae Andreadis & Hanula (Microsporida: Pleistophoridae) while monitoring Japanese beetle populations at nine golf courses in Michigan from 1999 to 2018. We also compared the current distribution of the pathogen in Michigan to the known distribution in 1999. Beetles were sampled a total of seven different years, in three time periods: 1999-2000, 2005-2007, and 2015-2018. At these nine golf courses, O. popilliae infection rates of adults increased from 0.39% in 2000 to 29.5% in 2018, while Japanese beetle adult populations declined 73.2%, and Japanese beetle larval density declined 78.6% (from 1999 to 2018). In previous research, larval infection rates averaged at least twice the infection rates of adults, because all infections originate in the larval stage, and at least 75% of infected larvae die before pupation. This means that an adult infection rate of 29.5%, combined with previously observed 50% reductions in egg production by infected females, are consistent with the observed population declines. The current distribution of O. popilliae in southern Michigan was determined by sampling Japanese beetle larvae and adults at 38 sites in 2017 and 2018. Ovavesicula popilliae was found at 21 of 38 sites and in 16 of 21 counties, compared with two sites in one of 16 counties when it was first detected in Michigan in 1999 and 2000.

Relative Resistance of Ulmaceae for Host Susceptibility, Feeding Preference, and Suitability for the Adult Japanese Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

AbstractLaboratory feeding and fecundity bioassays, and field defoliation surveys were conducted on 73 Ulmus and eight Zelkova taxa to determine their relative susceptibility, preference, and suitability for the adult Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman). Ulmus alata Michx., U. crassifolia Nutt., U. davidiana Planch., U. elliptica K. Koch, , U. glabra Hudson, U. laevis Pall., U. microcarpa, L.K. Fu, U. multinervis (syn. U. castaneifolia) Hemsl., U. parvifolia Jacq., U. propinqua Koidz., U. prunifolia Cheug and L.K. Fu,, U. rubra Muhlenb., U. suberosa Henry, U. sukaczevii Andr., U. .szechuanica Fang., U. taihangshensis S.Y. Wang, U. thomasii Sarg, U. wilsoniana Schneid., ‘Frontier', ‘Homestead', ‘New Horizon', ‘Pioneer', ‘Patriot', U. ‘Morton' Accolade, and U. ‘Morton' Triumph, and Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Mak. cultivars ‘Green Valley' and ‘Village Green', and Z. schneideriana Hand.-Mazz were the least susceptible to feeding and/or the least suitable for reproduction. Percent leaf tissue removed was highly correlated with field defoliation ratings, but was not a good predictor of fecundity. Asian and European elm leaves were thicker compared with North American elms, and Asian elm leaves were tougher compared with European and North American elm leaves. Host susceptibility and suitability were not related to leaf thickness or toughness. Adult female beetles laid significantly more eggs when feeding on Asian elm taxa compared with European, Eurasian, and North American elm taxa. Hybridization appears to affect host susceptibility. Results reported here provide new insight for the use of Ulmaceae taxa for future reforestation and tree breeding programs.Species used in this study: Ulmus alata Michx., U. americana L., U. bergmaniana var. lasiophylla Schneid., U. canascens Melville, U. carpinifolia Gled.., U. castaneifolia Hemsl., U. changii Hangchow, U. chenmoui Cheng, U. crassifolia Nutt., U. davidiana Planch., U. elliptica K.Koch., U. foliaceae Gilbert, U. gaussenii Cheng,, U. glabra Hudson, U. glaucescens Franch., U. glaucescens Franch. var. lasiocarpa Rehd., U. japonica Sarg., U. laevis Pall., U. lanceaefolia Roxb., U. lamellosa C. Wang et S.L. Chang et L.K. Fu, U. macrocarpa Hance, U. microcarpa L.K. Fu, U. multinervis (syn.U. castaneifolia) Cheng, U. parvifolia Jacq., U. procera Salisb, U. propinqua Koidz., U. propinqua var. suberosa Henry , U. prunifolia Cheng et L.K. Fu , U. pseudopropinqua Wang et Li, U. pumila L., U. rubra Muehl., U. serotina Sarg., U. suberosa Henry, U. sukaczevii Andr., U. szechuanica Fang, U. taihangshanensis S.Y. Wang , U. thomasii, U. wallichiana Planch., U. wilsoniana Schneid., Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Mak., Z. carpinifolia (Pall.) K. Koch., Z. schneideriana Hand.-Mazz,. Z. sinica C.K. Schneid, Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees.

Significance to the Horticulture Industry

Significance to the Horticulture Industry

Relative Susceptibility, Preference, and Suitability ofCarpinusTaxa for the Japanese Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) 1

AbstractNineteen Carpinus taxa were evaluated in no-choice and multiple-choice laboratory feeding bioassays for susceptibility, preference, and suitability for the adult Japanese beetle (Popillae japonica Newman). No-choice laboratory feeding bioassays revealed that only three Carpinus taxa, Carpinus caucasica Grossh., Carpinus tschonoskii Maxim., and the hybrid Carpinus caroliniana x C. coreana, were significantly less susceptible and less suitable to feeding and for reproduction by Japanese beetles. Leaf tissue removed was related to the amount of frass produced, but was not related to leaf thickness, inner or outer leaf toughness, or fecundity. Frass production did not reflect fecundity. Hybridization may have either a positive or negative effect on host susceptibility, preference, and suitability. When a moderately preferred species such as C. caroliniana Walter or C. betulus L. is crossed with a species of equal or higher susceptibility, (i.e. C. coreana Nakai, Blume, or C. laxiflora (Sieb. and Zucc.) Blume) feeding preference increases. A “C. tschonskii factor” (Maxim.) appears to affect susceptibility and preference. There does not appear to be a large pool of Carpinus taxa suitable for future tree breeding programs in areas where Japanese beetle outbreaks are common. Potential use of Carpinus taxa in urban landscapes and forests is discussed.Index words: Susceptibility, preference, suitability, Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, Carpinus.Species used in this study: Carpinus betulus L., C. caroliniana Walter, C. caucasica Grossh, C. cordata Blume, C. coreana Nakai, C. fargesii Franch, C. japonica Blume, C. laxiflora, (Sieb. and Zucc.) Blume, C. orientalis Mill, C. tschonoskii Maxim, C. turczaninowii Hance, C. betulus x tschonoskii, C. caroliniana x betulus, C. caroliniana x (C. betulus x tschonoskii), C. caroliniana x cordata, C. caroliniana x coreana, C. caroliniana x orientalis, C. caroliniana x tschonoskii, C. caroliniana x coreana, C. cordata x C. japonica, and, Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees.

Adult Popillia japonica as an Otorhinolaryngologic Invasive Foreign Body in a Rural Area

Otorhinolaryngologic foreign bodies may be encountered in-office visits, the emergency department, and speciality consultations. These include food, toys, and other small items, are present in pediatric patients. Because patients may be asymptomatic and the insertion of the foreign body not observed, obtaining medical care may be delayed. Conversely, insects as foreign bodies, especially in the external ear canal, can cause a patient significant pain and distress, directing the patient to seek immediate care. Here, we present a case of an adult Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) as a foreign body in the ear of a 14-year-old female. A review of otorhinolaryngologic foreign bodies is also discussed, with particular attention to the ear and rural location. This case highlights the potential for agricultural insects to act as invasive foreign bodies, especially in areas where they are known to be endemic pests and the consequences of delayed treatment.

Geographic distribution of Ovavesicula popilliae in the United States and sensitivity of visual diagnosis compared with qPCR detection

The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is one of the most destructive invasive pests in North America, causing significant economic impact to many fruit crops, turfgrass and the nursery industry. A microsporidian pathogen of Japanese beetle, Ovavesicula popilliae, discovered in 1985, proliferates in the Malpighian tubules of larvae and adults, disrupting waste-removal, mineral filtering, and fluid balance in heavily infected individuals. Most infected larvae do not survive from fall to spring, and egg production by infected females is reduced by 50%.Ovavesicula popilliae is promising as a classical biological control agent for Japanese beetle, but outside of surveys completed in Connecticut and Michigan little is known about its geographic distribution in North America. The objective of this research is to obtain a better understanding of the distribution of O. popilliae in North America. Japanese beetles were collected at 59 locations in a total of 19 different states in the USA for pathogen analysis. Overall, the proportion of Japanese beetle adults infected by O. popilliae was much greater in Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and four states in the northeastern USA compared with sites located west of the Mississippi River (18.6 ± 13.3% and 0.6 ± 1.2%, respectively). Nucleotide sequences of the gene encoding a small subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA (ssrDNA), obtained from GenBank for O. popilliae was used to develop a highly specific qPCR test for O. popilliae DNA. A subsample of 110 individual Japanese beetles were visually diagnosed first, then analyzed via qPCR. Visual diagnosis and qPCR detection agreed for 80.9% of the beetles tested. The qPCR assay is more sensitive than visual diagnosis (56 visually positive, 73 qPCR positive), is highly specific for O. popilliae, and will be useful for detecting the pathogen in large batches of beetles, or in beetle frass.

Evaluation of Foliar Insecticide Control of Adult Japanese Beetle in Raspberry, 2019

Evaluation of Foliar Insecticide Control of Adult Japanese Beetle in Raspberry, 2019

Management of pine wilt disease vectoring Monochamus alternatus adults using spray and soil application of Metarhizium anisopliae JEF isolates

Abstract Chemical control is widely used to control the Japanese pine sawyer beetle, Monochamus alternatus, but strong chemical regulations require an environmentally sound management strategy. In this work, we investigated the use of entomopathogenic fungi and their application as a means of practical pest management. Thirty-two diverse species of fungal isolates were assayed against adult pine sawyer beetles using a contact method under laboratory conditions, and four isolates showed over 70% virulence consequently. These isolates, two each of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae were sprayed on the adult beetles at 1 × 107 conidia/ml in plastic containers, respectively. The M. anisopliae-treated adult beetles showed 67% mortality. M. anisopliae isolates JEF-197 and JEF-279 demonstrated dosage-dependent insecticidal activity. Following the laboratory experiments, semi-field trials were conducted in young pine trees under high (RH 94%) and low (RH 35%) humidity conditions. In the high humidity conditions, most of the adult beetles stayed on the top of the branches. When the two M. anisopliae isolates were sprayed on the beetles, they showed ca. 50–70% insecticidal activity 11 days after application. In contrast, in low humidity conditions, the adult beetles tried to move off the branches and onto the soil. When the beetles reached the JEF-197 and JEF-279-treated soil, we measured >90% insecticidal activity. This work suggests that M. anisopliae was the most virulent entomopathogenic fungus against adult Japanese pine sawyer beetles, and this forest insect could be ecologically controlled by the spray and soil application of the M. anisopliae isolates.

Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, is a widespread and destructive pest of turf, landscape, and ornamental plants in the United States. It is also a pest of several fruit, garden, and field crops, and has a total host range of more than 300 plant species. Adult Japanese beetles feed on foliage, flowers, and fruits. Leaves are typically skeletonized or left with only tough network of veins. The larvae, commonly known as white grubs, primarily feed on roots of grasses often destroying turf in lawns, parks, and golf courses. Currently the Japanese beetle is the most widespread pest of turfgrass and costs the turf and ornamental industry approximately $450 million each year in management alone (Potter and Held 2002). This document is EENY-350, one of a series of Featured Creatures from the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Published: June 2005.
 EENY350/IN630: Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) (ufl.edu)

Blackberry Cultivar Feeding Preference of Adult Japanese Beetles

The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman) is one of the most widespread and destructive invasive insect pests in the eastern United States. Blackberry (Rubus sp.) production in the United States has increased significantly in recent years. With the introduction of new blackberry cultivars, insect resistance should become the focus of further breeding efforts. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the susceptibility of 13 blackberry cultivars to the Japanese beetle. The seasonal population dynamics of this insect, beetle damage to blackberry foliage, and beetle preference of blackberry cultivars were monitored from 2016 to 2018 on a blackberry plantation in Mountain Grove, MO. Japanese beetles feeding on blackberries occurred between 814 to 1251 cumulative degree-days (CDD; base, 10 °C) after 1 Jan. The following cultivars were evaluated: Apache, APF-40, Arapaho, Chester, Chickasaw, Kiowa, Natchez, Osage, Ouachita, Prime-Ark 45, Prime-Jan, Prime-Jim, and Triple Crown. Foliage damage incidence, defined as average percentage of leaves damaged by beetles on a given cane, did not differ among the cultivars. However, average severity of damage, estimated by rating on a scale from 0 (least) to 5 (most) of all damaged leaves on a given cane was different among cultivars. Ouachita and APF-40 exhibited the lowest damage severity rating among floricanes and primocanes, respectively. Apache (a floricane) and Prim-Jan (a primocane) were the most susceptible cultivars. Japanese beetle preferences for cultivars correlated with the degree of foliage damage. Because all blackberry cultivars exhibited similar foliage feeding incidence, but different feeding severity, we suggest the Japanese beetle does not differentiate among blackberry cultivars from a distance, but does upon contact with the foliage of a given plant.

Foliar Insecticide Control of Adult Japanese Beetle in Minnesota Raspberries, 2018

Foliar Insecticide Control of Adult Japanese Beetle in Minnesota Raspberries, 2018

Chlorantraniliprole: Reduced-risk Insecticide for Controlling Insect Pests of Woody Ornamentals with Low Hazard to Bees

Landscape professionals need target-selective insecticides for managing insect pests on flowering woody ornamentals that may be visited by bees and other insect pollinators. Chlorantraniliprole, the first anthranilic diamide insecticide registered for use in urban landscapes, selectively targets the receptors that regulate the flow of calcium to control muscle contraction in caterpillars, plant-feeding beetles, and certain other phytophagous insects. Designated a reduced- risk pesticide by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, it has a favorable toxicological and environmental profile, including very low toxicity to bees and most types of predatory and parasitic insects that contribute to pest suppression. Chlorantraniliprole has become a mainstay for managing turfgrass pests, but little has been published concerning its performance against the pests of woody ornamentals. Researchers evaluated it against pests spanning five different orders: adult Japanese beetles, evergreen bagworm, eastern tent caterpillar, bristly roseslug sawfly, hawthorn lace bug, oleander aphid, boxwood psyllid, oak lecanium scale (crawlers), and boxwood leafminer, using real-world exposure scenarios. Chlorantraniliprole’s efficacy, speed of control, and residual activity as a foliar spray for the leaf-chewing pests was as good, or better, than provided by industry standards, but sprays were ineffective against the sucking pests (lace bugs, aphids, or scales). Basal soil drenches in autumn or spring failed to systemically control boxwood psyllids or leafminers, but autumn drenches did suppress roseslug damage and Japanese beetle feeding the following year. This study indicates that chlorantraniliprole can be an effective component of integrated pest and pollinator management programs on woody ornamentals.

Insecticide Trials Against Adult Japanese Beetle, 2016*

Insecticide Trials Against Adult Japanese Beetle, 2016*

Host suitability and diet mixing influence activities of detoxification enzymes in adult Japanese beetles

Induction of cytochrome P450, glutathione S transferase (GST), and carboxylesterase (CoE) activity was measured in guts of the scarab Popillia japonica Newman, after consumption of single or mixed plant diets of previously ranked preferred (rose, Virginia creeper, crape myrtle and sassafras) or non-preferred hosts (boxelder, riverbirch and red oak). The goal of this study was to quantify activities of P450, GST and CoE enzymes in the midgut of adult P. japonica using multiple substrates in response to host plant suitability (preferred host vs non-preferred hosts), and single and mixed diets. Non-preferred hosts were only sparingly fed upon, and as a group induced higher activities of P450, GST and CoE than did preferred hosts. However, enzyme activities for some individual plant species were similar across categories of host suitability. Similarly, beetles tended to have greater enzyme activities after feeding on a mixture of plants compared to a single plant type, but mixing per se does not seem as important as the species represented in the mix. Induction of detoxification enzymes on non-preferred hosts, or when switching between hosts, may explain, in part, the perceived feeding preferences of this polyphagous insect. The potential consequences of induced enzyme activities on the ecology of adult Japanese beetles are discussed.

Evaluation of Kaolin Clay as an Alternative Management Tactic for Japanese Beetle Feeding Damage in Grape Vineyards

The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), is an exotic, introduced Scarab that has become one of the most widespread and destructive insect pest of turf, landscapes and nursery crops in the eastern United States. It also damages various fruit, garden and field crops. Evaluation of certain conventional and non-conventional control agents in a Wisconsin vineyard revealed that bifenthrin, a fourth generation synthetic pyrethroid, provided the greatest Japanese beetle adult control in choice and no-choice feeding bioassays. Bacillus thuringiensis gallariae (Btg) was also effective in both bioassays. However, Btg residual activity was relatively limited; its performance decreased five days after treatment. Kaolin clay provided effective Japanese beetle adult management via consistent adult feeding damage mitigation in both study years. Field tests showed that various application Kaolin clay rates were effective in minimizing feeding damage by Japanese beetle adults, and no adverse effects were observed on several important fruit quality characteristics such as sugar content (Brix), acidity, number of fruit produced per plant and fruit weight. Kaolin clay is an alternative, non-insecticide management tactic that can be employed by grape growers to minimize feeding damage by Japanese beetle adults and reduce the amount of conventional insecticide input needed to maintain grape quality.

Identification of a Bacillus thuringiensis Cry8Da toxin-binding glucosidase from the adult Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica

Cry8Da from Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae SDS-502 has insecticidal activity against both the larvae and adult Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman). The receptor determines the specificity of the insecticidal activity of Cry proteins and hence, in order to reveal the mode of action of Cry toxin, receptor identification is a necessary step. However, a receptor for Cry8-type toxin has not been identified in the Scarabaeidae family of insects. Therefore, we aimed to identify the receptor of Cry8Da toxin in adult P. japonica BBMV. A ligand blot showed the Cry8Da toxin only bound to a 150kDa protein in the BBMV of adult P. japonica. In order to identify the Cry8Da toxin binding protein, it was purified by column chromatography and three internal amino acid sequences were determined. Two of the three internal amino acid sequences shared homology with Coleopteran β-glucosidases. In addition, the fraction containing the Cry8Da toxin binding protein had β-glucosidase activity but no aminopeptidase N and alkaline phosphatase activity, both of which are commonly reported as receptors for Cry toxins in Lepidopteran and Dipteran insects. The β-glucosidase homologous genes could be amplified by PCR using degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed from a conserved sequence of Coleopteran β-glucosidases and an internal amino acid sequence of the Cry8Da toxin binding protein. Taken together, the β-glucosidase in adult P. japonica BBMV is the receptor for B. thuringiensis Cry8Da toxin.

Rainfastness of Insecticides Used to Control Japanese Beetle in Blueberries

Field-based bioassays were used to determine the relative impact of rainfall on the relative toxicity of four insecticides, phosmet, carbaryl, zeta-cypermethrin, or imidacloprid, from different chemical classes on adult Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica Newman, in highbush blueberries, Vaccinium corymbosum L. Bioassays were set up 24 h after spraying occurred and Japanese beetle condition was scored as alive, knockdown or immobile 1, 24, and 48 h after bioassay setup. All insecticides were significantly more toxic than the untreated control and zeta-cypermethrin consistently had the greatest toxic effect against the Japanese beetles. All insecticides experienced a decrease in efficacy after simulated rainfall onto treated blueberry shoots, although the efficacy of zeta-cypermethrin was the least affected by rainfall. This study will help blueberry growers make informed decisions on when reapplications of insecticides are needed in the field with the aim of improving integrated pest management (IPM).

Ovavesicula popilliae (Microsporidia: Ovavesiculidae) spore production in naturally infected adult Japanese beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Ovavesicula popilliae is a microsporidian that infects both Japanese beetle larvae and adults. This is the first study quantifying the number of O. popilliae spores produced by Japanese beetle adults. Mean spore production per adult Japanese beetle was 2.67×107 (SE±4.65×106) spores with a range of 1.46×106–1.02×108. The number of spores produced per host is similar to other microsporidian species and may help explain the speed with which this pathogen has spread from introduction sites to surrounding areas.

Rainfastness and Residual Activity of Insecticides to Control Japanese Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Grapes

Field-based bioassays and residue profile analysis were used to determine the relative toxicity, rainfastness, and field degradation over time of five insecticides from five insecticide classes on adult Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), in grapes, Vitis labrusca L. Bioassays assessed Japanese beetle condition as alive, knockdown, or immobile when exposed for 24 h or 7-d field-aged residues of phosmet, carbaryl, bifenthrin, thiamethoxam, or indoxacarb after 0, 12.7, or 25.4 mm of rain had been simulated. We found that the two most toxic insecticides to Japanese beetle were phosmet and carbaryl, followed by bifenthrin, thiamethoxam, and then indoxacarb. The efficacy of phosmet decreased because of rainfall, but not because of field aging. The efficacy of carbaryl decreased because of rainfall and field aging. The efficacies of bifenthrin and thiamethoxam were not affected by rainfall but decreased because of field aging. The efficacy of indoxacarb was not affected by rainfall or field aging. This study will help vineyard managers make informed decisions on when reapplications of insecticides are needed with the aim of improving integrated pest management programs.