Continuing the “Beetle Battle”

beetle features
beetle features

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is continuing its multi-year effort to eradicate the Japanese beetle, an invasive and destructive insect pest in your neighborhood in 2021. Thanks to your support and cooperation, we have had success in reducing the Japanese beetle populations in Oregon, but more efforts are required. We still need the cooperation of all members of the community to continue the fight against this pest.

We are asking again this year for your consent to allow ODA to apply a granular larvicide (Acelepryn® G) treatment to lawns and ornamental planting beds on your property or residence. Treatment will be very similar to treatments in 2020. If you live within the treatment area, you will receive a notice from the ODA with details about the project, including a consent form. Treatment for Japanese beetle begins each year in April. Please return your completed consent form as soon as possible once you’ve received it.

In areas with higher beetle density, we will be supplementing the granular treatment with a foliar application of Acelepryn® to target adult beetles. This treatment was also used in select areas in 2020. 

2020 beetle map
Proposed 2021 Japanese beetle (JB) treatment area and 2020 trap catches in Cedar Mill and vicinity

In addition, we urge everyone to continue not participating in plant exchanges, and to adhere to the yard debris quarantine to prevent the spread of the Japanese beetle. If you’re new to the area, or just need a refresher, there’s more information in this article from December 2020.

Lastly, we want to again thank everyone for your continued support in eradicating the Japanese beetle. For more information please visit our website at: Japanesebeetlepdx.info. If you have questions please email us at japanesebeetle@oda.state.or.us or call us at 503-986-4636.