Popillia japonica

Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae

Identification
• Adult is a stout, ¹/₂" long, metallic green beetle with copper wing covers.
• Larva is a C-shaped, white grub up to 1" long.

Damage
• Adults eat holes and window-feed in the flowers, leaves, and/or fruit of smartweed, rose, raspberry, currant, grape, peach, apple, and many other plants.
• Grubs feed on grass roots causing dieback and browning of turf.

Management
• Hand-pick the adult beetles.
• Cover plants with nylon netting or polyester row covers to protect them from beetle attack.
• Insecticides are somewhat effective against the beetles.
• Because adults can fly ¹/₂ mile or more,larval control will usually not reduce the numbers of adult beetles or damage.
• Beetle traps attract more beetles to the yard and result in more damage than not using them.