Japanese+Beetle+-+Joe+F

== =General Information= Scientific Name: //Popillia japonica//

I. Physical Features Japanese beetles are gifted a hard exoskeleton and chewing mouthparts. Adult bodies are about 10-12 mm long made of a metallic substance, usually green or copper and bronze wing covers. These hardened wing covers are actually modified wings called elyptra. (Bilberry, Shiawn) This is the life cycle of the Japanese Beetle from a year cycle:

http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef451.asp

=Detailed Description= = = I. Life Cycle/ Reproduction Information The life cycle of the beetle is in most cases one year in a variety of locations in the United States; however, this has been disproved in cooler climates by living by another year. For example, since it is native in Japan, the beetle's life cycle is on average two years long due to higher latitudes of the grasslands required to live in the larval stage. In the duration of the larval stage, the white grubs can be distinguished by their V-shaped raster pattern.

The Japanese Beetle eats the following: Strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, grapes, roses, plums, pears, peaches, raspberries, blackberries, corn, peas, and blueberries. (Japanese Beetles)

=Habitat and Distribution= = = I. Where does the Japanese Beetle live? Obviously, the Japanese beetle is indigenous to Japan. This beetle was first found in the United States around 1916 in a nursery near Riverton, New Jersey. It was to be believed that beetle larvae entered the country in a shipment of iris bulbs before 1912 when inspections of imports began. (Japenese Beetles)

II. Where has it spread to?
(http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/biocontrol/jb_map.htm) The Japanese Beetle started out in New Jersey, then after a century, it would spread across the East Coast. =Impact= The Japanese beetle has impacted our country and captured the most attention out of all insects through corn and soybeans. Originally, western corn root worms were the threat in the U.S. crops, and the huge number Japanese Beetles in the past two years became the new threat. (Steffey, Kevin)

= = = = = = = = =Control Measures= The rapid number of Japanese Beetles are slowly declining due to insecticide being sprayed on numerous crops. However, this method is not environmentally friendly due to runoff of the insicticide going into water sources nearby (Vail 15). Now, farmers are taking a more natural approach in solving the problem, by hiring the help of organisms in the soil that kill the grub, or the egg of the Japanese Beetle. These organisms are known as Entomopathic Nematodes. These nematodes work their way through the soils and penetrate the exterior of the grub and kill the matter inside (Vail 15). = =

Bilberry, Shiawn. "Popillia Japonica." __University of Michigan Museum of Zoology-__ __the Animal Diversity Web__. Ed. Stephanie Fabritius. 20 Nov. 2008 . Steffey, Kevin. "Japanese Beetles--The Onslaught Continues." __University of__ __Illinois- the Bulletin__. Ed. Mike Gray. 14 July 2006. 20 Nov. 2008 . University of Kentucky. "Japenese Beetles in the Urban Landscape." __University of__ __Kentucky College of Agriculture__. Jan. 2006. 20 Nov. 2008 . Vail, Karen M., Frank Hale, and Harry E. Williams. "The Japanese Beetle and Its Control." __Agriculture Extension Service of the University of Tennessee__. 2008. 21 Nov. 2008 .