A single Japanese beetle was confirmed by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) July 12 in Pasco, Washington.
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A Franklin County Horticultural Pest and Disease Board trapper found the beetle and state officials responded to the catch, verified the beetle, and set up a delimiting trapping grid around the find.
“This is an excellent example of just how important agency collaboration is,†Camilo Acosta, WSDA Japanese beetle eradication project coordinator, said.
The trap produced a single beetle. WSDA teams began immediately setting up additional traps and checking nearby nurseries for additional detections.
“A single beetle is less cause for concern because one beetle can’t reproduce,†Acosta said. “But we need to be sure there are not more. Last year, a single beetle was found in Richland, but extensive trapping in the area did not detect additional beetles.â€
State officials urge anyone in Yakima, Benton or Franklin counties to look for and report these beetles.
Growers can consult crop protection specialists and community members can consult WSDA’s website for guidance from Washington State University Extension on protecting their gardens from this invasive pest.
WSDA mapping specialists created a real time detection map that growers can use to determine how close they are to known Japanese beetle detections.
More than ever, public participation is key in fighting invasive species. With these detections along the I 82 corridor, WSDA is asking residents especially in Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties to look for and report Japanese beetles.
Japanese beetle adults are metallic green and brown and have little tufts of white hair on their sides. They emerge usually from lawns or in other soil and feed on more than 300 types of plants.
From fall to spring the grubs (larvae) overwinter in the soil and slowly develop into mature adults ready to emerge again the next year in the summer as temperatures warm.
Residents that live in an area where the beetles have been detected can limit the spread by not moving plants, yard waste or soil from their property to prevent spreading the beetles.
“We also urge you to leave your plants, or treat them with an appropriate insecticide, before moving from the area,†Acosta added.
Adult beetles can hitchhike on vehicles and on items stored outdoors.
When adult beetles are flying, those who live in or visit the quarantine area should take a second to ensure they are not giving a free ride to beetles when they leave the area.
This can be as simple as checking the back of your pick up truck to ensure that no beetles are taking advantage of a free ride. ■