Jacob Henden
Japanese Beetle
The Japanese beetle (JB) is an invasive insect that was first detected in North America in 1916, near Riverton, New Jersey. JB has progressively extended its range over the past century and within the last decade, JB has become a significant pest for grape growers in Wisconsin. JB feed on over 300 species of plants and grape leaves are a preferred source of food for adult JB. It is common to see large aggregations of JB defoliating canopies within vineyards, and this defoliation can decrease yields of grape plants and can jeopardize the cold hardiness of vines.
In 2017, our lab started a research project examining the spatial distribution of JB and the influence of the surrounding landscape on JB within Wisconsin vineyards. Our study aims to produce information relevant to grape growers, as knowledge of JB spatial distribution and landscape risk assessments are essential in developing effective management plans.
You can read more about JB identification and results from our 2017 study on page 1 of our team’s newsletter.