Photographer:

Kansas Department of Agriculture

Adult(s)

Description:

This beetle is a highly destructive pest in both the adult and larval stage. It was introduced into the United States by accident in 1916 and has spread both by flight and human commerce. In 1992, an established infestation was detected in North Topeka. The source of these beetles was thought to be infested nursery stock. The adults feed on the leaves and fruit of many plants, and the larvae feed on the roots of grasses. The Japanese beetle is sometimes confused with the green June beetle and species in the genus Euphoria. The Japanese beetle differs from the above in that it is three times smaller (than the green June beetle) and has tufts of white hairs along the sides of the abdominal segments just below the edge of the elytra. The insect is about 9/16 inch (13 mm) long. Entomologists with the Kansas Department of Agriculture regularly place Japanese beetle traps in landscape nurseries and other high-risk areas to detect new introductions of this pest. The information for this submission into the image library was provided by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.  A more detailed report on this submission can be found in the KDA Field Manual: Insects in Kansas.  To obtain a copy of Publication #S131: Insects in Kansas contact K-State Research and Extension, Department of Communications distribution center at (785) 532-5830

Field