Japanese Beetle Research Articles (Page 1)

Abstract. Globalisation has accelerated the spread of invasive agricultural pests, including Popillia japonica Newman, introduced to Italy in 2014. This species has caused severe damage to vineyards, highlighting the need for efficient detection methods. Manual identification, though accurate, is time-consuming and labour-intensive. This study explores a computer vision (CV)-based approach using Near-Infrared (NIR) imagery captured by Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) to detect adult Popillia specimens. Conducted in two vineyards in northern Italy, the project aims to develop a standardised and replicable monitoring protocol. CV-based detections are validated by entomologists and integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS) to generate prescription maps for targeted drone-based pesticide application. However, traditional feature extraction and matching (FEM) algorithms, such as SIFT, SURF, and ORB, struggle in vineyard environments due to repetitive structures (seriality of fixed components, such as poles, supports, etc) and limited NIR texture. These limitations hinder image alignment, especially in the absence of geodetic-grade GNSS and high-precision IMU data. To address this, the study replaces FEM methods with deep image matching (DIM) techniques like SuperPoint and DISK for feature extraction, paired with SuperGlue for graph-based matching. Applied within a visual SLAM (vSLAM) framework, these deep learning models significantly improve image connectivity and alignment. Experimental results, supported by a fine-tuned SuperPoint model trained on vineyard datasets from the DANTE2 project, demonstrate up to 90% alignment improvement over conventional methods. This work presents a robust, scalable solution for accurate pest mapping in viticulture, contributing a fine-tuned PyTorch model to the scientific community.

Beauveria bassiana ERL836-mediated suppression of oxidative phosphorylation and immune response in fat body of Japanese pine sawyer beetle.

Leaf-feeding insect pests are often encountered in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., but rarely cause defoliation to exceed established action thresholds in the North Central United States. Pest managers often question these thresholds and apply insecticides when pest densities are well below recommended levels. Furthermore, assessing soybean defoliation in the field is often perceived as too time-consuming. Our objectives were to (i) determine the extent of insect defoliation injury in the North Central United States relative to economic thresholds, (ii) characterize spatial patterns of insect defoliation within soybean fields, and (iii) compare visual estimates of soybean defoliation obtained from the entire soybean canopy with those obtained from individual leaflets. We assessed insect defoliation in 65 soybean fields in 7 states in 2019 and 2020. Only 1 field exceeded an economic threshold computed using updated economic data applied to established relationships between leaf tissue removal and yield loss. The most common pests observed included the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman; the bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata (Förster); the green cloverworm, Hypena scabra (F.); and grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae). We did not observe consistent "edge effects" in defoliation, likely due to the variety of leaf-feeding insect pest species we encountered. We computed sequential sampling plans that suggested relatively few samples would lead to a decision not to apply an insecticide for defoliating insects in most soybean fields. Defoliating insects rarely cause economic damage in the North Central United States based on current conditions.

The Japanese beetle Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is a highly polyphagous quarantine invasive species causing severe crop damages. Its management is based on broad-spectrum insecticides and sustainable alternatives are needed. Strategies based on RNA interference (RNAi) emerged in crop protection and we aimed to explore its use to control P. japonica. Nine genes of P. japonica were selected as lethal candidates, based on previous wide-genome screenings on other coleopterans. To avoid off-target effects, genes showing over 80% identity with pollinator homologues were excluded and P. japonica double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) were designed in the least conserved portions according to alignments with Apis mellifera. When incubated in P. japonica midgut juice, dsRNAs were not degraded. Injection and plant-mediated feeding were used to deliver dsRNAs to larvae and adults. Five targets were tested, and two genes were selected as the most effective in increasing mortality, namely regulatory particle non-ATPase 6 subunit (RPN) and shibire_dynamin-like protein (SHI). A significant transcript reduction up to 21 days (RPN: 3-5 fold-change silencing) after dsRNA injection indicated that effective gene silencing occurred, as also supported by sequencing of small RNA libraries. In adults, RNAi-mediated depletion of RPN transcript reduced survival, either when insects were injected or mass-fed on vine leaves dsRNA-treated. A subunit of the 26S proteasome was indicated as promising RNAi target for dsRNA-based insecticide against the Japanese beetle. The data pave the way for the possible use of RNAi approaches to control this pest, proactively waiting for the European Union approval of exogenously applied dsRNAs. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Genetic disturbance can be caused by the release or escape of individuals with different genetic characteristics into wild habitats, risking impacts on native biodiversity. The risk of genetic disturbance in pet insects due to release and escape is particularly common because a wide variety of affordable pets are available on the market. Trypoxylus dichotomus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae), the Japanese rhinoceros beetle, is a renowned pet insect in Japan and thus is a suitable target species for studying genetic disturbances in pet insects. However, the detailed spatial genetic structure and genetic disturbances of this species in Japan remain unclear. Here, we estimated the genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of wild and marketed individuals using mitochondrial DNA sequences and genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained via MIG-seq. Using MIG-seq, 570 SNPs were obtained, revealing a weak yet significant spatial genetic structure in the Japanese archipelago. Although significant isolation by distance (IBD) was observed in wild individuals, no significant IBD was observed in marketed individuals. Comparisons between wild and marketed individuals revealed clear differences in spatial genetic structure. These findings highlight the risks of releasing marketed individuals into the wild owing to their artificial long-distance migration. Our results provide valuable insights into the genetic disturbance of human-mediated distribution and underscore the need for informed management practices to protect native biodiversity.

Based on reports of Japanese beetle (JB), Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), population decline in Michigan following establishment of Ovavesicula popilliae Andreadis and Hanula (Microsporidia: Ovavesiculidae), USDA APHIS initiated a project to inoculate runway fields at major Midwest USA airports with O. popilliae, as part of a long-term plan to decrease JB populations at airports and thereby minimize its spread by cargo aircraft to quarantined states. The initial step is to evaluate the presence or absence of O. popilliae at major cargo airports. To accomplish this, improvements are needed in a previously validated qPCR diagnosis of O. popilliae infections of JB. In this study, the accuracy of qPCR diagnosis, which can be used for pooled samples of JB, is improved by minimizing PCR inhibition, then determining the Ct value for O. popilliae DNA that best distinguishes infected from healthy individuals based on microscopic diagnosis of the same individuals. This approach is validated in a second way by correlating the Ct value for O. popilliae DNA to the concentration of O. popilliae spore vesicles in the same samples of blended and filtered JB. Time efficiency of qPCR diagnosis is improved by combining rough homogenate from a pooled sample of 8 JB before DNA purification and qPCR analysis. Pooled samples can be used to accurately estimate percent infection at inoculated sites where less than 15% of the JB are infected. These new methods are used to detect O. popilliae infections of JB at a major airport in each of 8 different states.

In western North America, 3 pest wireworms in the genus Limonius co-occur on farmland, and the click beetle adult males respond to the same single-component sex attractant, limoniic acid. While divergence in seasonal occurrence may provide a means of separating sexual communication for Limonius canus (LeConte) and Limonius californicus (Mann.), both species overlap temporally with Limonius infuscatus (Mots.), suggesting the existence of additional reproductive isolating mechanisms. To determine the effect of trap height on the relative captures of these species, we deployed ground-based Vernon Pitfall Traps and aerially suspended Japanese Beetle traps baited with limoniic acid dispensed from rubber septa or plastic capsules, in British Columbia, Alberta, Washington state, and Montana. The proportion collected of each species differed among study locations, but our data indicate species differ in trap preference, with L. infuscatus and L. californicus preferring ground traps, and L. canus preferring aerial traps. This possibly reflects preferences in where species locate mates, and therefore another separation mechanism. Lure type also had a significant effect on captures in most studies, with generally more L. californicus and/or L. infuscatus collected if capsule dispensers, and more L. canus if septa dispensers were used. Implications for monitoring these species with these trap and dispenser combinations are discussed.

Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is an invasive agricultural pest throughout the eastern United States and its distribution is expanding westward. Understanding how climate and land use intensification interact to affect Japanese beetle population dynamics and spread is essential to predict which areas are vulnerable to increased pest pressure. In this study, we combine data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) with data from local state agricultural agencies and University extension offices to model how land cover and climate affect Japanese beetle occurrences at the leading edge of an invasion front in the central United States over 5 years. We found that beetle occurrences were positively correlated with proportion of developed areas, proportion of corn and soybean, minimum temperature, and precipitation within counties, and negatively correlated with the proportion of grassland and pasture, and maximum temperature. We modeled Japanese beetle occurrences in the near future and for future climate scenarios and found high probability of occurrence for Japanese beetles across the entire region. Our study highlights the importance of supplementing community science data in rural areas and including a time variable when assessing habitat associations for invasive species in novel areas.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-18493-x.

BackgroundThe Japanese beetle Popillia japonica is an invasive pest that is creating a major concern due to its spread and damaging potential. Native to Japan, it was introduced in the U.S.A. and the Azores during the twentieth century, and in mainland Europe in 2014. P. japonica is able to attack more than 400 plant species, including some of high economic importance, and the possible losses related to uncontrolled expansion in Europe are substantial. Numerous control measures are being developed to control this pest, with a specific focus on Integrated Pest Management and environmentally safe strategies. Aiming for a genetically informed optimization of the design of these control methods, we studied the gene expression response of the pest following exposure to three different treatments: deltamethrin-coated long lasting insecticidal nets, Bacillus thuringiensis and Metarhizium robertsii spores.ResultsThe treatment with insecticidal nets resulted in the differential expression of genes related to Ca2+ transport and CYP-based detoxification. Exposure to B. thuringiensis was associated with enrichment of gene ontology terms related to antimicrobial peptides and immune function, which suggested potential modulation of immune-related processes. Treatment with M. robertsii led to the production of antifungal peptides as well as an up-regulation of the Toll and MAPK pathways.ConclusionsThese findings can be variously interpreted as a response of the insect to minimize the effects of the treatment at the molecular level (e.g. Ca2+ increase), as a direct attempt of the insect to combat the agent (e.g. antimicrobial peptides), or as part of a more complex interplay between the insect and the biological control agent (e.g. modulation of the immune system). In general terms, the response to the insecticidal nets and, partly, to B. thuringiensis, appears to arise from a direct interaction of the insecticide molecule, or toxin, with their targets at the molecular level. On the other hand, multiple gene pathways are modulated in the response to M. robertsii, suggesting a more diversified mode of action that impacts a broader spectrum of biological mechanisms, in line with the notion that the fungus actually grows and reproduces inside the insect host.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-025-11949-4.

A fine-tuned deep learning model for detecting Japanese beetles in soybeans using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and mobile imaging

The linkage between methane emissions and the metabolic activity of archaeal species is broadly established. However, the structural and functional dynamics of this phenomenon within the scarab larval gut and associated host soil environment have not been investigated. In this study, we used shotgun metagenome sequencing to explore the archaeal communities associated with the digestive tract of third instar Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) (JB) larvae and its host soil. Our findings showed that both the JB gut compartment (midgut vs. hindgut) and experimental conditions (field vs. manipulative laboratory studies) significantly affect the composition of archaeal taxa. Moreover, gut compartment affected the functional profile. Results revealed an increase of methane metabolism-related taxa and gene sequences in the larval hindgut, supporting the hypothesis that methanogenesis is primarily maintained in that gut compartment. Methane production associated with the JB larval gut takes place primarily via CO2 reduction (~30%) and methanol methanation (4%) pathways. The presence of the same archaeal features in both soil and JB midgut suggests that the JB midgut archaeome may be environmentally sourced, with more tailored selection of the archaeome occurring in the JB hindgut. In turn, we found that JB larval infestation also increases the abundance of at least one methanogenic archaeon, Methanobrevibacter, in infested soil. Results underscore the potential impact of invasive root-feeding scarab larvae on the soil archaeome and highlight their potential contributions to climate change, especially in light of predicted global range expansion for this species.

Abstract Age can affect the outcomes of male–male contests, but its effects vary across species. In some species, winning probability increases with age due to increased investment in reproduction as a strategy of terminal investment, while in others, it decreases due to senescence. In the Japanese rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, males use their horns to compete for resources and mates. Previous research has shown that the horn and body size influence contest outcomes. We investigated the effect of age on winning probability in male–male contests. We also measured the daily changes in lifting and grasping forces as indicators of fighting ability. Both body size and age differences significantly affected contest outcomes, with larger or younger males being more likely to win. Fighting ability declined with age; specifically, males over 20 days of age exhibited decreased grasping and lifting forces. Given the short reproductive season and low survival rate of natural populations of this species, selection probably favors individuals that fight with full effort regardless of age. Consequently, contest outcomes are primarily determined by differences in physical abilities, and older males with reduced fighting performance are more likely to lose to younger males. This study emphasized the importance of morphological and physiological factors in determining competitive outcomes and highlighted the impact of life history on sexual selection dynamics.

The Japanese rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, possesses large horns on its head and thorax, features whose biological significance has been explored across various fields, including evolutionary developmental biology, behavioral ecology, and materials science. To investigate the molecular basis of these characteristics, systemic larval RNA interference (RNAi) has been employed as a primary loss-of-function genetic tool. However, gain-of-function analyses and region-specific gene function assessments remain underdeveloped, thereby limiting the comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved. To address this limitation, we developed an in vivo electroporation technique to introduce exogenous DNA vectors directly into the somatic tissues of T. dichotomus larvae to express the genes of interest. Additionally, we utilized the piggyBac transposon system to insert the exogenous DNA vectors into the host genome for stable gene expression. Our findings indicate that the T. dichotomus actin A3 gene promoter exhibits sufficient transcriptional activity in the early postembryonic stage of T. dichotomus via electroporation. Furthermore, we observed that this promoter functions effectively across a diverse range of insect species, including the harlequin ladybug, Harmonia axyridis and the silkworm, Bombyx mori, suggesting the broad applicability of the T. dichotomus actin A3 promoter in various insects.

Invasive species are an increasing global threat given their ability to rapidly spread and adapt to novel environments. The adverse ecological and economic impacts of invasive species highlight the critical need to understand the mechanisms that underpin invasion processes and success. The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, is an invasive pest of remarkable interest, as it feeds on hundreds of economically valuable plant species. It has been expanding outside of its native range in Japan since the first decades of the 20th century, colonising large areas of North America and, more recently, Europe. Here, we compared whole-genome resequencing data from individuals encompassing the entire species distribution to study the geographic differentiation of P. japonica populations and reconstruct expansion routes from Japan to the USA and Europe. We found six genomically distinguishable clusters, corresponding to the approximate colonisation areas at a continental scale. Our analysis supported an ancestral divergence between South and North/Central Japan, with the latter being the source of the initial invasion to the USA. Coalescent simulations supported independent bridgehead events from the USA to the Azores and Italy. We also investigated possible signals of selection to better understand the adaptive mechanisms that underlie the invasion success of P. japonica. However, the absence of strong selection signatures suggested that the beetle's adaptive ability might be embedded in pre-existing genomic features. Our comprehensive genome-wide dataset allowed a detailed inference of the invasion process and may be useful in determining the origin of P. japonica individuals in future invasion events.

New proteins are needed to control insects not controlled with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops, and those evolving resistance to Bt crops. These proteins are increasingly being reported from non-Bt organisms to control Bt-resistant insects. However, these proteins mostly control the corn rootworm, Diabrotica spp. (Coleoptera), whereas most Bt-resistant insects are lepidopteran. We hypothesized that diversifying our search for proteins into non-Bt organisms, such as those related to Paenibacillus popilliae, used to control Japanese beetle Popillia japonica, could yield proteins with new insecticidal activities against Lepidoptera. Here, we identified Vip3Cb1 and Vip3Cc1 with broad lepidopteran activity, the first Vip3 proteins discovered from strains in the P. popilliae-containing clade. Vip3Cb1 protected plants against cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa zea and tobacco budworm, Chloridea virescens and H. zea, fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, and Southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella, in cotton and maize, respectively, like commercial Vip3Aa. Distinct from Vip3Aa, Vip3Cb1 also protected maize against European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, the primary maize pest in the United States, with recent reports of resistance to Bt proteins. Consistent with previous reports, insects resistant to Vip3Aa were cross-resistant to Vip3Cb1. Cryo-electron microscopy demonstrated that Vip3Cb1 formed a pore-shaped tetramer upon proteolytic activation, in agreement with the pore-forming mechanism of action of Vip3Aa. Thus, diversifying the search beyond Bt has led to the discovery of the first Vip3 proteins from Paenibacillus spp. with different activity spectra from Vip3Aa, providing additional tools to control pests, including those currently resistant to Bt Cry proteins.IMPORTANCENew insecticidal proteins are needed for controlling insect pests that can devastate crop yield if left uncontrolled. Diversifying our search for new insecticidal proteins in Paenibacillus spp. resulted in the discovery of Vip3Cb1 and Vip3Cc1 insecticidal proteins active against lepidopteran crop pests. Structure and cross-resistance studies indicate overlap in the mechanism of action between Vip3Cb1 and commercial Vip3Aa. However, new activities, such as controlling European corn borer, make these proteins important new tools in the insect control toolbox.

Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is a priority quarantine pest of the European Union that can pose an economic threat to certain agricultural activities. When female beetles have a choice, container substrates are not the preferred or suitable oviposition sites; however, plant nurseries are a potential pathway for spreading the pest. For this reason, producers must abide by restrictive measures to guarantee P. japonica-free plants, leading to major restrictions on their commercial activities. An innovative and sustainable approach to P. japonica control involves the application of a mulch layer to potted plants to physically prevent beetle oviposition. A choice test compared the effectiveness of 13 mulching materials in preventing P. japonica oviposition and the influence of soil moisture on egg laying. Additionally, for 10 of these materials, the role of mulch physical properties in preventing oviposition in potted plants was assessed in a no-choice test. The survey demonstrated that mulching can significantly reduce the risk of P. japonica’s oviposition in container substrates. Mulches with higher specific weights, such as gravel and lapilli pebbles, achieved greater control. Soil moisture influenced P. japonica oviposition, with higher moisture levels leading to increased egg laying. The application of suitable mulches represents an effective phytosanitary measure to improve the sustainable management of P. japonica in nurseries.

Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman 1841 – Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) were detected in early 2000’s at L’Orpailleur, a commercial vineyard located in Dunham, Quebec. Canada. As their levels of damage increased significantly since 2014, a research project was conducted to document the abundance of Japanese beetle adults on foliage of vines and its parasite, the winsome fly Istocheta aldrichi (Mesnil) (Diptera: Tachinidae). From 2019 to 2023, the abundance of Japanese beetle adults was visually assessed in plots (3 × 24 m of grapevine rows) on foliage of each Vidal and Seyval Blanc cultivars. The abundance of Japanese beetle adults with at least one Istocheta aldrichi egg on their pronotum was also visually assessed. From 2019 to 2023, cages positioned near the vineyard allowed to overwinter I. aldrichi pupae to determine the first date of emergence of I. aldrichi adults. Cumulative day-degrees (>10 °C, starting April 1st) were used to report the events related to P. japonica adults, I. aldrichi, and the date of occurrence of phenological stages of grapevines (cultivar Seyval Blanc). In the monitored plots, the seasonal total number of P. japonica adults counted on Seyval Blanc foliage varied from 1955 in 2019 to 513 in 2023, while it varied from 2151 in 2019 to 496 in 2023 on Vidal foliage. From 2019 to 2023, during the period of oviposition of I. aldrichi, the seasonal average % of P. japonica adults showing at least one I. aldrichi egg on its pronotum varied from 7.6 in 2020 to 41.7% in 2023 on the cultivar Seyval Blanc, while it varied from 10.6 in 2020 to 35.5% in 2023 on the cultivar Vidal. Having discussed the agronomic context and factors involved at l’Orpailleur, we conclude that I. aldrichi had a major impact on P. japonica populations, thus providing a non-insecticidal and sustainable tactic to manage this insect.

Pine wilt disease, caused by the nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, poses a significant threat to pine forests worldwide. Understanding the dynamics of its spread is crucial for effective disease management. In this study, we investigated the involvement of asymptomatic carrier trees in the expansion of pine wilt disease through a series of experiments. Cage-releasing experiments revealed that sexually immature Japanese pine sawyer beetles, Monochamus alternatus, feeding on healthy pine branches drops only a minimal number of nematodes (primary infection). However, sexually mature beetles, still harboring numerous nematodes, fly to weakened trees for breeding and extend their feeding activities to healthy pines around weakened trees, infecting them with nematodes and thus spreading the disease further. Inoculation experiments on field-planted black pine seedlings demonstrated that even a small number of nematodes can lead to a high occurrence of asymptomatic carrier trees. Our findings suggest that nematode infections transmitted by sexually mature Monochamus beetles significantly contribute to the expansion of pine wilt damage and play a crucial role in the persistence of asymptomatic carrier trees. This conclusion is based on cage-release experiments demonstrating nematode transmission by mature beetles and inoculation experiments highlighting the conditions leading to asymptomatic carrier trees.

Abstract In this study, factors affecting Japanese beetle (JB) trap captures (eg wind direction and speed, lure type, trap deployment and efficiency) were investigated in the field using semiochemical baited traps. Fifty-two percent of 667 JB observed flew directly upwind toward a trap with a dual lure (sex pheromone + floral kairomone), especially when wind speed exceeded 1.5 m/s. Within thirty seconds after approaching 2 m of a trap baited with a dual lure, 43%, 35%, and 22% of 138 observed beetles were captured, flew away, or landed on the trap, respectively. Of 265,884 beetles captured, 48% were captured by a cluster of 3 traps each with a single dual lure, 30% by a single trap baited with 3 dual lures, and 22% by a single trap baited with one dual lure. Traps baited with the floral lure (ie kairomone) and the floral lure and the sex pheromone (ie dual lure) captured similar numbers (39% and 41%, respectively) of JB and both captured more beetles than traps baited with the pheromone alone (12% and 8% for the sex-pheromone from the dual lure and sex-pheromone standard, respectively). Traps baited with the floral kairomone alone or with sex pheromone captured a 1:1 sex ratio (M:F) while pheromone-only traps captured a 3:1 (M:F) ratio of JB. No additive or synergistic effects of the pheromone and floral kairomone were observed. To our knowledge, this study is the first to quantify in real time the flight behavior of a beetle toward traps in the field.

Abstract The Japanese beetle ( Popillia japonica ) is an invasive scarab beetle originating from Japan. In the European Union, it is listed as a priority quarantine pest. Currently, it is mainly controlled using synthetic insecticides. Here, we tested an environmentally friendly control alternative. We investigated whether Japanese beetle adults can be used as vectors to autodisseminate lethal doses of the European native entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum ART 212 within adult populations. Additionally, we tested whether infested females could carry conidia into the soil environment during oviposition, increasing neonate larval mortality. We showed that inoculated adults can indeed transmit the fungal conidia horizontally for up to two days, significantly reducing the survival of both donor and recipient beetles in same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Furthermore, horizontal transmission among adults was verified under semi-field conditions. Another set of laboratory tests showed that beetles carried the inoculum to their oviposition sites, where larval survival was reduced at high concentrations (≥ 1.11 × 10 5 conidia/g substrate). However, the release of inoculated beetles in semi-field cages resulted in soil fungal concentrations more than ten times lower, failing to provide larval control. Thus, carriage of M. brunneum ART 212 into the soil by female vectors does not seem to provide control of larvae outside the laboratory setup. However, our results suggest that lethal conidial doses can be autodisseminated among the more susceptible adults. This may be the basis for an environmentally friendly control strategy against invasive Japanese beetle adults, applicable in both agricultural and non-agricultural areas.