Biorational Plant Protectants for Controlling Adult Japanese Beetles

Nature of Work: Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica Newman, are destructive, polyphagous insects that feed on over 300 different plant species, including many ornamental landscape plants. Since their introduction into the United States, Japanese beetles have spread rapidly throughout the Eastern United States with isolated populations in the Western United States and Canada. Due to the large numbers of beetles often present and their continual movement as adults, eradication of Japanese beetles is not a practical solution. In addition, pesticide applications in many urban settings are complicated by the proximity to people, adherence to reentry restrictions, and public concerns about pesticides. An alternate approach would be to deter pests with the use of low toxicity plant protectants including organic plant derivatives. As public concerns about pesticides increase, these plant protectants may provide desirable alternatives.