Latest news with #JapaneseBeetles
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Japanese beetles causing problems in Maritime gardens
Gardeners are being warned of a species of invasive Japanese beetles that are rampant in the Maritimes. Another year calls for another generation of Japanese beetles and experts say the higher numbers in recent years could be due to the warm temperatures. 'Insects are cold blooded, the warmer it is, the faster they metabolize, the faster they grow, the more they reproduce,' says Andrew Hebda, Nova Scotia Museum retired curator of zoology These insects are easy to spot. They are around one centimeter in length, have a metallic green head and bronze-coloured wings. Some experts like Hebda say they are actually quite attractive, but that doesn't take away from how destructive they actually are. 'Japanese beetles actually start as grubs in your lawn so they have been investigating your lawn and creating lawn damage, and they will emerge and find plants they like to nibble on,' explains Emily Tregunno, with Halifax Seed. Emily Tregunno Emily Tregunno is seen at Halifax Seed. (CTV/Emma Convey) They tend to seek out healthy lawns and plants. 'If they find a garden that has a lot of delicate leaves, good leaves they will stay there until something better comes along,' adds Hebda. They won't be leaving anytime soon, experts say now is the peak season and they won't be leaving until fall. 'The more you are able to get them under control of them now at the adult stage which is what we are seeing now on the plants right now, that's the adult Japanese beetle. You want to control those now with traps, picking and squishing, however you can control them is great,' says Tregunno. Gardeners at a community garden in Dartmouth said last year was their worst year yet. Although they acknowledge the peak for this season is just starting and they could see a lot more. 'Last year we were picking beetles at the same rate we were picking beans. I'd have four volunteers picking beans and four volunteers picking beetles. It was a good bean harvest but a lot of beetles,' says Katherine Carey, North Grove Community Farm and Market coordinator. So far, they are picking between 30 to 100 of these beetles every day. Carey states every day she seems to find more and more. 'I'm out there usually twice a day when they get to their worst and I am picking them and putting them into a bucket of soapy water and removing that and any of the damaged leaves from where my garden is so that I am not attracting more,' says Carey. There are ways to get ahead of them, but it starts early in the spring when the beetles are just grubs. 'You also need to think about controlling them at the grub season as well, so early in the spring season and over that spring season while they are in your lawn, you want to control them then, and you also want to control them in the fall as a grub as well,' says Tregunno. Halifax Seed Halifax Seed is seen. (CTV/Emma Convey) This can be done through biological sprays, nematodes and digging them up as well. As for when they hit adulthood, there are plants that deter them but also traps that work as well. 'It's really, really critical that you put them in the right spot of your property, so they will attract beetles in, you will see an influx coming in, so you want to put these traps about 30 feet away,' says Tregunno. When it comes to those that eat them, not much does. Some birds, insects and raccoons, but their main predators according to retired curator of zoology, Andrew Hebda, do not exist here in North America. 'Bit by bit our fauna may adjust to that, but this may be a great new source of food for somebody. But at the moment though, we don't, and that's the problem with bringing some things from one place to another,' says Hebda. Experts remind those gardening this summer that the Japanese beetle's season here in North America is fairly short and as long as gardeners keep on top of picking them off their plants, their crops should have a good shot at surviving. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts issue warning over dangerous insects spreading rapidly across US: 'They're gonna eat everything they can'
Experts issue warning over dangerous insects spreading rapidly across US: 'They're gonna eat everything they can' Warm weather is bringing some hungry beetles out of hiding. What's happening? Invasive Japanese beetles have an enormous appetite, and they're out of control in Kansas. The small, shimmering scarab beetles are native to Japan and considered highly invasive in the United States and Europe. Their eggs are laid in the soil, and larvae eat roots underground until temperatures rise. Once they emerge, the beetles voraciously consume leaves. While some invasive species fixate on one plant, this hungry beetle doesn't discriminate. They feed on "more than 300 different types of plants, such as Virginia creeper, linden, crabapple, roses, American elm, and willow, along with crops like corn and soybeans," according to KSNT. Why are the beetles concerning? Despite their small size, these beetles have a devastating impact on agriculture. Roots are destroyed by their larvae, and leaves and fruit are eaten by the mature beetles — the entire crop is lost. "When an insect is out for three months, they're gonna eat everything they can," Kansas State University professor Raymond Cloyd told KSNT. It's not just Kansas's crops at risk. Other states lose millions or billions in agricultural income. Invasive species are one of the main drivers of extinction, along with habitat loss. Invasive species outcompete native ones for resources, alter habitats, and even introduce new diseases. What's being done to stop the beetles? These beetles are extremely difficult to get rid of. Many traditional pheromone traps attract beetles, but they aren't as successful in capturing or killing them. A college student at the University of Minnesota developed their own Japanese beetle trap, and it looks promising. Without traps, residents use insecticides on their plants and soil to kill beetles and their grubs. For those who are hesitant to use pesticides on their plants, the beetles can be picked off by hand and dumped in warm, soapy water to kill them. Conservationists are constantly developing new ways to combat invasive species, from releasing wasps to fight fruit flies to eating invasive crawfish. Do you think your lawn has enough greenery in it? Definitely I'd like a little more I want a lot more Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
CBC
22-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Invasive Japanese beetles found outside downtown core in Kamloops, B.C.
A Kamloops, B.C., resident has reported invasive Japanese beetles outside the city's downtown core — an area which is considered a containment zone for the foliage-eating species. Also known as Popillia japonica, the invasive pest feeds on the roots of grass and the foliage of more than 300 plant species. The CFIA recognizes the insect's spread as a threat to commercial crops and native plants, and the Invasive Species Council of B.C. says it "poses a severe threat to ecosystems and industries." Late last year, the beetles were detected in the B.C. Interior city of Kamloops, the first time the pests were detected in B.C. outside the Lower Mainland. It prompted the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to set up a containment zone around the city's downtown core to prevent the spread of the beetles and start a survey to assess it. Anyone transporting whole plants, soil and certain plant matter outside the zone has to get a movement certificate signed off by the CFIA — but a Kamloops resident living outside the city's regulated area recently discovered a swarm of the pests in her garden. "Every time I come out, every few hours, I check the plants because I certainly don't want these spreading. And I find more," Laine Martin, who lives on the city's west side near the fire hall, told CBC News on Monday. Martin had just returned from a vacation when she discovered almost 50 beetles on her rose and raspberry bushes. "I think that Kamloops has a problem, and I think we have to be proactive and try to combat this spread," she said. "If that means additional spraying to other areas that were outside the quarantine zone, let's get on top of this." CFIA says no cause for alarm yet Jason Crandall, the CFIA's planning chief for the Japanese beetle eradication response in B.C., said it was only the first year of their Japanese beetle survey in Kamloops. He urged residents to report any Japanese beetles if they find them, and trap and freeze them so inspectors can more accurately map their spread. "It's the first year of the proper survey. So you know, if you're out in your backyard and you're looking at your roses ... and you find beetles, don't panic," he said. "It's important to act. But you shouldn't let that spin into fear." Crandall said the CFIA's response to the invasive Japanese beetle involves spraying plants with pesticide, which he says is incredibly effective at killing the pests, as well as regulating the movement of plant matter to prevent the beetles' spread. "Instead of just guessing or having a broad area of treatment, it's better with pesticides to have a more targeted area," he said. "And the more data we collect, the more targeted we could be." Danielle Sparks, the City of Kamloops's environmental services supervisor, dubbed the Japanese beetles a "hitchhiker species" that don't fly very far. "They do rely on humans for spreading to different areas. So trying to prevent hitchhikers is key," she said.
CBS News
20-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Colorado weather driving surge in mosquitoes, but other insects need help
As Summer heats up, the bugs are out in Colorado As Summer heats up, the bugs are out in Colorado As Summer heats up, the bugs are out in Colorado Bug season in Colorado is off to a strong start thanks to the heat and recent rain across much of the state. There are some to watch out for and others that need our help. From grasshoppers devouring gardens to mosquitoes multiplying after rainstorms, insect activity across Colorado is on the rise, and weather is driving the surge. CBS "Some insects thrive in dry, hot weather, like our grasshoppers," said Lisa Mason, Horticulture Specialist and Entomologist at Colorado State University's Arapahoe County extension. "But Miller moths, on the other hand, prefer cooler temperatures." Expect more grasshoppers on the eastern plains. Miller moths are passing through quickly, heading into the mountains to escape the heat. Recent rains also mean mosquitoes, and lots of them. "Our partners in Arapahoe County Public Health have actually seen double, and in some cases triple, the number of mosquitoes," said Mason. CBS To keep bites at bay, Mason recommended dumping standing water, wearing long sleeves at dawn and dust and using repellent with DEET. Japanese beetles are also thriving in lawns and gardens. Mason said drying out your lawn between waterings can stop them before they start. "The adults thrive in hot weather," explained Mason. "In fact, that makes them just want to feed more. So we're likely to see high numbers of Japanese beetles again." CBS But while pests are booming, bees are in decline. Coloradans can help by planting native pollinator-friendly flowers like aspen daisies and prairie sunflowers. "The cool things about insects is we have so much biodiversity, and most of our biodiversity is in our landscapes and we barely even notice. So, go outside and observe," Mason suggested. Bug season is buzzing, but knowing what to expect helps you protect your yard, your health and the helpful insects too.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Science
- CBS News
U of M students' bug trap invention keeps Japanese beetles out of gardens
U of M students create a way of dealing with an invasive insect U of M students create a way of dealing with an invasive insect U of M students create a way of dealing with an invasive insect Some University of Minnesota students have come up with a creative solution for a pesky problem. "Every year these Japanese beetles would come and completely eat away at our plum trees," said Aditya Prabhu. "My mom would drag me and my brother outside and pick them by hand." Prabhu knew there had to be a better way to deal with the invasive insects. And he found his solution in an entrepreneur class at the University of Minnesota. It challenged Prabhu and classmate Mohamed Hammadelniel to think outside the box. So, they created a trap that could stop the bugs dead in their tracks, while also being environmentally-friendly. "The pheromone is fairly simple. It's a little cone inside the trap," said Prabhu. That pheromone attracts Japanese beetles to the trap's mesh, which is coated in a low dose insecticide. It's not a threat to humans, animals, or pollinators, but it is to beetles. "When beetles land on it, it takes them about 30 seconds to be killed by the insecticide," said Prabhu. During a test run at two Minnesota vineyards, hundreds of beetles filled the traps and they were nearly bursting at the seams. It's been such a success that Prabhu, Hammadelniel and their friend James won the Minnesota Cup competition, and took home $25,000 to move the invention forward. "I don't think I expected it to be something that after a year, was still so meaningful to all three of us," said Hammadelniel. The goal now is to take their invention a step further. They're hoping these plant traps become a common site in gardens across the state. "It's going to be absolutely cool to see this in stores," said Prabhu. "I hope we can reach as many people and as many beetles as possible," said Hammadelniel. "That's really the goal. If we can continue to inspire students to innovate in college, as well as solving a real problem, I'd feel really at peace." Prabhu says the official name is the Alure beetle trap, Alure LLC. Their next step is to do more research this summer and then get Environmental Protection Agency registration, which would give them the rights to manufacture, market and sell the trap.
