The Japanese Beetle was originally found in Riverton in 1916. Then in 2008, over 100 beetles were detected in Orem. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) created a treatment program to get rid of the pests.
Once the treatment program started, there was a 95 percent reduction in beetles. When 2009 rolled around, the department hoped for the same results.
The Japanese Beetle is hazardous because it can cause significant damage when in high numbers because it feeds on plants. Adult and immature beetles feed on more than several hundred plant species (www.orem.org).
Treatment was scheduled to begin in early June 2009. Lawns, bare ground, and soils were treated first. Areas where high numbers of beetles are discovered will be possibly treated twice.
The treatment consists of traps and sprays. The traps contain sex pheromone/floral lure trap to help adult beetles emerge. Once the beetles emerge from the ground, remove the beetle and drop into a jar of soapy water.
The sprays are a foliar insecticide. These are used in extreme situations, customary insecticides, including carbaryl (Sevin), marathon, and permethrin (Pounce, Bayer Advanced) can be used (www.orem.org).
The philosophy was to only spray areas beetles were found. Treatment for 2009 started in June. A notice of 48 to 72 hours was given to tell residents in the treatment area.
Beetles have been found in the green waste facility in Provo. Orem has asked residents to follow the Orem City Green Waste disposal policy.
The beetle is typically above the ground in June, July, and August. During this time other precautions need to be made in disposing of tree trimmings, brush and plants as well as grass clippings.
The Japanese Beetle larvae need high moisture in the grass to survive. Residents have been asked to hold off watering their lawns until absolutely necessary.
Along with holding off water, it is essential to remove all grass form garden areas. The female Japanese Beetle lays eggs in grass and the larvae feed on the roots of the grass.
According to the latest count by the UDAF, a total of four beetles have been collected as of August third. The UDAF will wait until the end of summer 2009 to establish whether treatment is necessary in 2010.