The Japanese Beetle (JB)

2009 Treatment Area Map

The 2009 Japanese Beetle Eradication Program

The impacted area lies roughly between 800 North to 400 South, State Street to 1200 West with a small area from 400 West to 750 West 200 south to 400 South. The beetle is underground 10 months of the year. The larva, pupa, or eggs of the beetle can be present at any time below ground and special precautions need to be observed when handling soil in the impacted area.

• The 2009 Japanese beetle treatment program will be much smaller this year, focusing on half as many acres as were treated in 2008.
• The 2008 program resulted in a 95% reduction in beetles. We expect similar results in 2009.
• That success is a result of the cooperation of area residents.
• Gardening is permitted with certain precautions.
• Open houses are scheduled for April 21st and 29th to answer questions not addressed.

The 2009 program quick facts:

• Approximately 150 acres of lawns, parking strips, open space, flower and shrub bedding areas will again be targeted instead of the 267 acres treated in 2008.
• Treatment will only be conducted in areas where beetles were found.
• The products we are using this year allows for gardens.
• Professional lawn care experts will be used to apply the insecticide.
• Treatment scheduled to begin in early June.
• 48-72 hour advance notice of when treatment begins will be given to residents in the treatment area. This is to be done by door-to-door contact and/or written notices left at residence when personal contact is not possible.
• Treatment will consist of ground applications and possible tree/leaf (foliar) treatments at different times.
• Lawns, bare ground, and soils will be treated once starting in early June.
• In areas where high numbers of beetles are discovered, trees, shrubs, flowers, and gardens will possibly be treated twice. · Gardening is allowed this year because the product being used is approved for use on food products, but with some limitations. Fruits and vegetables should not be consumed until after a certain amount of time has passed following the treatment. For exact times, see: http://ag.utah.gov/divisions/plant/japanesebeetle/index.html or contact USU Extension at (801) 851-8463.
• A Declaration of Insect Emergency remains in effect. Utah Code (4-35-7)
• Residents seeking a medical waiver from participating in the treatment program must use an alternative treatment procedure approved by UDAF. See http://ag.utah.gov/divisions/plant/japanesebeetle/index.html
• The treatment plan is designed to fluctuate based on numbers and location of beetle finds. Our philosophy is to spray only where we find beetles.

Because we found beetles concentrated in a central area, we have reduced the size of our treatment area for 2009.

The 2008 program enjoyed tremendous support by residents in the Geneva, Orem North and Suncrest neighborhoods where we treated. Nearly 100 percent of the lawns, bare ground, shrubs and open areas were treated. This gives us much optimism that the number of beetles that hatch this summer will be less than last year.

In 2008 we increased the number of Japanese beetle traps to 3,500 in and around the treatment area. A total of 101 beetles were found which represents a decrease of 95% from the previous year. This is a very small number when compared with other states infested with Japanese beetle. One beetle from the treatment area was found at the green waste facility in Provo.

Please follow to the Orem City Green Waste disposal policy.

SAFETY

The insecticides being used are the same products that lawncare professionals use to control lawn and garden pests every day in Utah. They are considered safe when label directions are followed. The smallest amount will be used to do the job right. The products are called Acelypryn and Tempo SC Ultra. The Internet Web site has more information about these products.

Pets: These products pose no significant health threats to pets. Just the same, it is advised that you bring your pets indoors during treatment time. This is for the safety of our applicators and your pets. We will pass out notices in your neighborhood a few days before the treatment begins in June.

Small children: Precautions you can take during applications to help the program: close windows, open exterior fence gates, bring pets and children indoors, cover lawn furniture to prevent damage. Other safety tips available online here. The product dries very quickly and sticks to plant leaves, and is not likely to rub off onto clothes or skin. It is advised that people stay off treated lawns until the material is completely dry.

The Japanese beetle is a small but highly destructive insect that if left untreated will do serious damage to our lawns, gardens and trees, and it could threaten the state's landscaping and fruit industries. We need your help to eradicate this infestation before it grows out of control.

To combat this pest it will require all residents within the impacted area to cooperate and to follow the directions of the State. The State will be spraying all property within the described area, this spraying will prevent home owners from harvesting vegetables or fruit from their gardens for the next three years. The City is seeking community garden sites outside of the quarantined area to allow impacted residents the opportunity to grow a vegetable garden over the next three years.

Japanese Beetle Background Information

The Japanese Beetle (JB) was initially discovered in the U.S. near Riverton, New Jersey in 1916. They were introduced into the U.S. from Asia on nursery stock. Two years later the U.S.D.A. & New Jersey authorities undertook efforts to abolish this pest but the infestation was so well established that extermination became unattainable. There were not adequate monies or control measures in use at this time, and in the course of its first 8 years in the U.S., infestation had bloomed to over 2,500 square miles.

Since its introduction, the JB has swept throughout most of the U.S. east of the Mississippi. Because of the potential of artificial spread, the JB is a great menace to agriculture and flora of the Western U.S. The JB is a highly ruinous plant pest causing both plant damage and increased control costs. Adults attack more than 300 species of plants. Numerous trees, ornamental shrubs & vines, fruits, flowers, vegetables, garden crops, weeds, and field crops could potentially be damaged. The grubs are serious pests of lawns, other grasses, and nursery stock. Because of the ease of shipping grubs with nursery stock & soil, this species could potentially be found about anywhere in the U.S. including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Adults are highly mobile and frequently ‘hitch’ rides in airplanes and motor vehicles. The larvae are dispersed in transported soil and nursery inventory. JB control by biological methods or insecticides is often expensive due to the labor, equipment, and/or insecticides involved.

The positive finding of JB in Utah is of major concern. Protecting Utah’s healthy $150 million nursery and tree fruit economy, and the lawns and ornamentals of Orem’s residents is and should be a high priority. Doing so will involve a three pronged approach including: treatment of infested area, an expanded delimiting trapping program, and an expanded detection trapping program in high risk areas.

Eradicating the JB population is a preferred option, while population levels remain low and are confined to a small area. This can be accomplished by treating the infested turf with an insecticide(Merit). Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Orem City, and Utah County officials have met regarding this goal and involved parties agree that eradication should be pursued. This is an ongoing process, and will most likely take 4-5 years to eradicate.

Delimiting trapping protocol will be expanded to comply with USDA/APHIS-PPQ Japanese Beetle Quarantine (JBQ). This is necessary to track the possible spread of JB populations surrounding the current affected area. An estimated total of 449 traps will be set in a 49 square mile area in and surrounding Orem.

Detection traps will be greatly expanded to 3,500 statewide. These will be placed in high risk areas and in habitat suitable for JB propagation. These suitable areas have been determined by vegetation type and traps will be set at 2 per square mile consistent with JBQ. It will be necessary to trap over a number of years to adequately trap these areas.

Given these facts, UDAF will continue in its efforts to help residents protect their turf and ornamentals from this pest.