Over the past few years, the Sacramento region has faced a persistent challenge in containing the dreaded Japanese Beetle. This troublesome insect was first discovered in Carmichael in 2011, with 17 confirmed sightings marking the beginning of an annual campaign to prevent its spread across the area.
The agricultural departments of the state and Sacramento County have been actively engaged in combating this destructive bug, which is considered the top turf pest nationwide and poses a significant threat to various crops such as grapes, citrus fruits, stone fruit, and a wide range of ornamental plants.
These beetles attack plants both above and below ground, with adult beetles consuming leaves and their larvae, or grubs, feeding on roots.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the battle against Japanese beetles costs over $460 million annually nationwide, with the damage caused by the larvae alone estimated at more than $234 million per year. However, there is much more than just financial implications at stake, especially for California, which has so far managed to avoid a full-blown infestation.
State officials fear that a widespread invasion could severely impact California’s $40 billion agricultural industry. Among the crops at particular risk are grapes, with a $5.2 billion harvest, as Japanese beetles have a strong affinity for grape leaves. Additionally, these voracious insects pose a significant threat to strawberries, asparagus, corn, walnuts, apples, peaches, plums, oranges, and many other crops.
For now, the Japanese beetles have only been found in residential neighborhoods rather than farmland, placing the responsibility of containment primarily on homeowners who have endured spraying programs for the past five years. Thankfully, due to aggressive anti-beetle treatments, no beetles have been discovered in Fair Oaks since 2014. However, the area will continue to be closely monitored until 2017. In June 2016, Japanese beetles were found in Carmichael, indicating that the battle is far from over.
Japanese beetles rank as the top turf grass pest in the United States. While their grubs pose a threat to lawns by devouring roots, it is the adult beetles that are particularly worrisome. They demonstrate a ravenous appetite for plants such as Japanese maple, Crape myrtle, apple trees, stone fruit (peaches, plums, apricots, pluots, cherries, etc.), Linden, Birch, Black walnut, Lombardy poplar, Willow, Rose, Grape, Sweet corn, Asparagus, Dahlia, Sunflower, Hollyhock, Peony, Gladiola, and Zinnia.
If you suspect the presence of Japanese beetles or any other pests in your yard and require effective treatment, we highly recommend reaching out to Fast Action Pest Control for a complimentary inspection, ensuring prompt treatment and a swift response to address the issue.