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Special thanks to Dr. Steve Alm, URI Department
of Plant Sciences for providing assistance with demonstrations
sites and information and review of this factsheet.
The Oriental beetle becomes an adult around
mid-June and generally lays its eggs in July.
The larval stage, known as the grub, does cause considerable
damage to turf grasses and nursery plants. The grubs eat
and destroy the roots of the grass. They are
also found in nursery stock, strawberry beds and some outside potted plants.
The grubs live below the ground within the effective root zone (approximately
1 to 6 inch depth). They can stay active during a mild winter, otherwise, they
usually go deeper into the soil when temperatures are cold.
The Oriental Beetle grub
population was
at a high enough level to warrant treatment. The majority
of samples yielded a population of 10 grubs per square
foot or more. This "level" is often referred
to as the economic threshhold level
where
there are or will be adverse impact and damage to
the "crop" or landscape plant.
Chemical Control:
An application of Bayer Advanced Lawn Season-Long Grub Control was applied
to infected lawn areas according to the rate and procedures specified on the
product
label. The label is the law.
This
product contains
a
granular
formulation
of
the
active
ingredient
Imidacloprid,
which
is the same active ingredient used in the Trade name Merit.
Generally, a granular formulation of a chemical pest control product provides
less risk of exposure and losses due to leaching or stormwater runoff than
other formulations such as sprays. The granular formulation was applied using
a drop
spreader for accurate control. This was especially important as the
product
was applied
to lawn areas
that
are near paved driveways, sidewalks, and roads.
The use of a drop spreader |
This treatment is effective
against the new cycle of white grubs that hatch after the
July mating period. An
additional alternative control
was also used at these sites to provide a second line of defense. Sampling
for white grub populations occurred again in September 2003 and May
2004.
Alternative control of the oriental beetle: mass trapping and mating
disruption
One form of alternative chemical control for the oriental beetle is known
as mass trapping and mating disruption. The process involves installing
traps (the style being used
here is known as a catch-can trap) that attract the adult male oriental beetle.
Unlike Japanese beetles, oriental beetles are not as adept at flying, so
these traps must be installed so that the funnel of the trap is at ground
level.
The adult male oriental beetle is attracted to the trap due to a lure that
is placed in the upper portion of the trap. The lure contains a natural scent
or
sex pheromone that is emitted by the adult female beetle to attract the male
for mating purposes. In this way, the mating cycle is being disrupted or
interfered with.
URI
Master Gardener, Rudi Hempe, collects adult oriental beetles
once each week from the traps during early June to late
August at the Davisville
Demonstration Site. |
The
opening of the trap funnel must be installed flush with
ground for control of the Oriental Beetle.
The pheromone lure is a small rubber tube-like piece that inserts within a small
hole in the above-ground portion of the trap.
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Other
benefits
Oriental beetles are usually only active during
the evening hours. This trap and lure will
also encourage
the adult male beetles to come out of the
ground during the day, which increases the possibility of bird predation – another
natural form of pest control.
Operation
In trials on golf courses, traps have been effectively placed as much as thirty
feet apart. It is possible that the oriental beetle will be attracted from
as far away as over one hundred feet.
At
our demonstration sites, the traps have been located within
perennial beds adjacent to lawn areas, much closer together,
in areas that allowed for the depth
needed
to install the trap below ground. Traps have been placed
in areas that are mostly sunny,
and in areas that hid the traps
from
plain
view where
possible. The beetles were collected
and counted once each week.
The lures are effective for about six weeks--read the manufacturer
instructions. They should be installed in early-mid June, as the
grubs become adult
beetles.
The traps
must be monitored and emptied
about once per week. The captured beetles can be drowned in soapy
water.
Costs and suppliers
One catch-can trap and lure set can cost about $17.00, not including shipping.
A replacement lure can cost about $2.50 each. They can be ordered through
Great Lakes IPM
10220 Church Road, NE
Vestaburg, Michigan 48891
1 (800) 235-0285; www.greatlakesipm.com
OR
Trece, Inc.
P O Box 6278
Salinas, CA 93912
(831) 758-0204; www.trece.com
You can also do a web search on Integrated Pest Management
It is important to know exactly what type of beetle you
have. Japanese beetle lures are different, trap placement
will be different, and the result of this method of alternative
pest control is not the same as with the oriental beetle.
For assistance with pest identification:
The
URI Plant Protection Clinic, (401) 874-2900
For more information on White
Grub Control
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